ARENA to provide US$33mn for R&D of hydrogen and low-emissions steel

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced AUD50 million (US$33.9 million) in funding for two rounds of research and development (R&D) focusing on renewable hydrogen and low-emissions iron and steel. The funding will be distributed over two phases, an initial laboratory-based research phase, followed by a commercialization phase aimed at demonstrating and scaling up research breakthroughs. The grant funding for successful applicants is expected to range between AUD500,000 (US$337,268) and AUD5 million (US$3.37 million), with AUD25 million (US$16.86 million) allocated for each funding round.

The Hydrogen Research and Development Round focuses on two streams of funding. The first is focused on improving and optimizing the production of renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia. The second stream will investigate storage and distribution solutions for renewable hydrogen. The low emissions Iron and Steel Round focuses on funding research that can significantly reduce emissions across the steel value chain in the near and long term.

Iron and steel production currently accounts for more than 7% of global emissions, and technological innovation is vital to achieving net-zero emissions. As the world's largest producer and exporter of iron ore, Australia has a unique opportunity to reduce emissions from iron and steel production.

The expressions of interest for ARENA's Hydrogen and Iron & Steel Research & Development Funding Rounds are due on June 1, 2023.