Alison Byrnes MP 

Member for Cunningham

The Albanese Labor Government will boost research and development into green hydrogen and low emissions steel production with $50 million in R&D funding provided by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

The investment round will allocate $25 million for iron and steel research that seeks to significantly reduce emissions across the steel value chain.

The additional $25 million round will be focused on research for hydrogen production and storage methods for both a domestic and future export hydrogen industry.   

Both research funding rounds are critical in supporting our region and Australia to be at the global forefront of hydrogen and steel production.

Australia’s iron and steel industries are critical to our economy now and into the future – research and technology to get emissions down will help the Australian steel industry thrive in a net zero global economy. 

Federal Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes MP said investment into hydrogen and steel production R&D is critical for Australia to be able to continue to make the world’s best quality steel and meet our legislated climate change targets. 

“Business and innovators in the Illawarra stand ready to develop and apply the new technologies that are going to help decarbonise Australian steel production, which is so vital in our regions plan to become a renewable energy powerhouse of the nation and the world.”

“Australia only has 81 months to get 82 per cent renewables into the grid, to meet this challenge we are going to need high quality, Australian made and ultimately decarbonised steel. I encourage all parts of the steel supply chain to consider working with research institutions, like the University of Wollongong, to find new ways to reduce our steel production emissions” Ms Byrnes said.  

This announcement is in addition to the Albanese Labor Government’s Safeguard Mechanism reforms and the Powering the Regions Fund that will help future-proof industry and ensure our energy-rich economy remains competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.