VIC and NSW States are investing in the first-ever renewable hydrogen refuelling network with $20 million in grant funding to co-deliver the Hume Hydrogen Highway (HHH) initiative in an effort to push the transition of the country’s energy system. The initiative aims to:

• accelerate the development of a renewable hydrogen economy in NSW and Victoria
• promote decarbonisation of the transport sector, supporting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in both NSW and Victoria
• promote the heavy transport sector as a key offtake for renewable hydrogen
• build the foundational local knowledge, skills, infrastructure and supply chains that will drive large scale market activation and widespread commercial uptake of renewable hydrogen in the heavy transport sector
• leverage at least matched funding to create new jobs and capital investment in NSW and Victoria
• generate and share knowledge that demonstrates a repeatable and scalable commercial model for hydrogen refuelling

Deadlines and Timings

Applications are open and you can submit until 2:00pm AEDT, Friday, 28 October 2022.

Assessment of applications: November to December 2022

Approval of grant award: January to February 2023

Finalise funding agreement: March to April 2023

Completion of HHH: 30 June 2025

Overview and Grant Amount

The Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan sets out how the Victorian Government is laying the foundations for an emerging Victorian renewable hydrogen industry. The focus areas for government are set out in this Plan and set the pathway to establishing a thriving renewable hydrogen industry that will:

• create long-term jobs through new career pathways and skills clusters
• enable the export of renewable energy
• drive innovation
• build our skills and capacity in renewable hydrogen
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our industrial, energy and transport sectors

To achieve this, the states are undertaking a competitive process to award $20 million in grant funding to support the development of a demonstration network of at least 4 renewable hydrogen refuelling stations along the Hume Highway, and at least 25 hydrogen-powered trucks to use the network for linehaul transportation.

We are seeking applications from proponents to deliver the demonstration network of hydrogen refuelling stations, along with the hydrogen-powered trucks travelling between Sydney and Melbourne using renewable hydrogen.

Eligibility and Criteria

To be eligible, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as a consortium, with one organisation taking the role of lead applicant. It is anticipated that the consortia will need to be comprised of market participants with the necessary capabilities and capacity to meet our objectives and project parameters. This could include (but is not limited to):

• a refuelling station operator
• at least one freight and logistics operator
• at least one hydrogen truck original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
• a freight customer

The lead applicant and consortium members must:

1. be an Australian entity duly incorporated and hold and comply with all necessary authorisations
2. have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
3. operate at premises in Victoria or New South Wales
4. declare they are not subject to any insolvency event, including the subject of an order or resolution for winding up or dissolution (other than for the purposes of reconstruction or amalgamation), or the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, administrator or similar
5. be the legal and beneficial owner of, or have all necessary rights to use, any Intellectual Property necessary to carry out the project
6. agree to enter into an agreement with the Governments to publicly share knowledge and information about, and resulting from, the project described in the application in line with the confidentiality arrangements
7. agree to share data about the project with the Governments to help evaluate the initiative and improve the design of future programs
8. declare they are not subject to any legal proceedings or investigations, including litigation, arbitration, mediation or conciliation taking place, pending or (to the best of the applicant’s knowledge, after having made proper enquiry) threatened against the applicant or a related body corporate (Claims) to the extent that such Claims objectively either:
9. affect, could affect, or be perceived to affect, the reputation of the State of New South Wales and / or the State of Victoria (including their officers, Ministers and employees)
10. conflict with, may conflict with, or be perceived to conflict with the potential funding or your obligations under the funding agreement or project more generally
11. impact (materially or otherwise) your ability to complete the project or comply with your obligations under the funding agreement.
12. comply with:
13. all obligations under employment contracts, industrial agreements and awards
14. • all codes of conduct and practice relevant to conditions of service and to the relations between the applicant and the employees employed by the applicant
    • all applicable Workplace Health and Safety legislation
15. declare that at the time of the application, they hold all insurances required by law
16. not be named on the list of persons and entities on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sanctions list

Interested parties are encouraged to read the guidelines and FAQs set by the funding grant, whilst submission may be lodged through their online portal.

Expert Assistance

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