Australian renewable hydrogen developer Countrywide Hydrogen’s (Countrywide), part of ReNu Energy, will become Tasmania’s first major green hydrogen producer after locking in an $8 million funding deal with the Tasmanian Liberal Government.
The announcement represents a material step forward for the delivery of Countrywide Hydrogen’s flagship Tasmanian green hydrogen project (Hydrogen HyWay#1), which aims to deliver Australia’s first end-to-end hydrogen transport ecosystem.
The GHPRS uses funds from the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Fund and aims to stimulate both the supply and demand for hydrogen by providing a payment per kilogram of renewable hydrogen produced and sold, to cover the gap between production costs and affordable pricing.
This type of funding is new in Australia, Countrywide says, which will help to deliver the firm’s green hydrogen at a price that competes with diesel.
Countrywide Managing Director, Geoff Drucker, applauds the government for the support shown for its Hydrogen HyWay concept and other projects in Tasmania.
“Our initial green hydrogen production and refuelling projects will be near Devonport in the north and Hobart in the south to enable road transport operators and their customers access to zero-emission freight services to deliver their emissions reductions targets,” Mr Drucker said.
“With first production targeted for early 2026 at both sites, we have a book of customers ready to transition to hydrogen-powered vehicles in the heavy transport sector, and a Hydrogen HyWay model that can be copied and pasted throughout the nation.”
Premier and Minister for Trade and Major Investment, Jeremy Rockliff, said the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s Green Hydrogen Price Reduction Scheme announcement was the latest step in making Tasmania’s hydrogen sector a reality.
“This is a crucial step towards realising our vision of Tasmania becoming a leader in green hydrogen production,” Premier Rockliff said.
“Under this agreement Countrywide will produce hydrogen at multiple locations around the state, and supply hydrogen for a diverse group of users.
“Initially the project will target the heavy transport sector as well as potential industrial applications with all hydrogen to be sold within the local Tasmanian market.
“It will be part of the next great evolution of our economy, capitalising on our great tradition of zero-emissions energy production to create the renewables jobs of the future.”
The funding package is premised on Countrywide Hydrogen producing hydrogen at multiple
locations in Tasmania, with the project initially targeting the heavy road transport sector as well as potential industrial applications, and with the hydrogen produced sold within the Tasmanian market.
The precise details of the funding arrangement will be set out in a grant funding deed to be entered into between the Tasmanian Government and Countrywide Hydrogen.
