NQ keen to capitalise on bioeconomy pact with Germany

North Queensland is a step closer to shipping green hydrogen to Germany following the signing of a supply chain development agreement between the Queensland and German governments, local advocates say. The Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Bioeconomy was signed by Treasurer Cameron Dick and German Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger last week. Bioeconomies are an emerging model for government and business, with a greater focus on sustainably using renewable biological resources to produce food, energy and industrial goods. North Queensland Hydrogen Consortium (NQH2) chair Claudia Brumme-Smith said that getting in front of the German delegation was important. It gave NQH2 project proponents a chance to share the progress being made in the north of the sunshine state to potential international customers, she said. NQH2 chair Claudia Brumme-Smith. “North Queensland is more advanced than most other regions both here at home and elsewhere in the world when it comes to the development of a green hydrogen industry, and we are ready to talk to potential markets outside our existing customer pipeline, which is predominantly based in Japan and South Korea,” Ms Brumme-Smith said. “We have the best renewable zones in the world on our doorstop, the water, skilled labour force, and export facilities to create a global energy hub, and there is growing demand from around the world for the green hydrogen products we can produce. “By the end of this year we will have the first hydrogen heavy vehicle fleet in Australia running on our roads, and proponents are working on recycled water and common user infrastructure that will spearhead the industry’s continued development in North Queensland. “What we need to see now is the commitment from the Federal Government to get enabling infrastructure projects like Copper String 2.0, which will link vast renewable resources and the industrial zones on the coast, funded and underway so we don’t miss the extraordinary opportunities that are being presented to us at the moment.” Edify Energy chief executive John Cole said that North Queensland’s enviable poll position as a green hydrogen producer was propelled by the immense potential of the renewable resources that would power the industry. “International customers are interested in bulk green hydrogen and bulk green hydrogen exports will require bulk renewables,” Mr Cole said. “However, rich renewable resource is only one factor in successful green hydrogen development. We need to see critical infrastructure finalised to bring renewable energy into Townsville and the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct so we can scale up our capabilities and begin to meet market demand. “We have strong ties to Europe with our capital funding partnerships and a range of business relationships, so we’re a natural partner to deliver the green hydrogen products that will provide Germany and other European countries with secure and reliable green energy into the future.” Mr Dick said international collaboration and investment in the bioeconomy sphere was critical to the growth and future prosperity of the state and nation. “Germany is a major goods trading partner of Queensland, with import and export trade totalling more than $2.4 billion in 2021,” he said. “This year also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Federal Republic of Germany. “We now look to build on that significant foundation with a shared vision for expanding our biobased research and industry. “Queensland has made significant progress in recent years when it comes to biofuels and developing more sustainable products and processes, and we’re eager to work with German partners to tap into new biotech and bioproduct knowledge and supply chains.” German Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger with Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick.

NQ keen to capitalise on bioeconomy pact with Germany

Industry Queensland

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