Sydney, December 23, 2023 – HIF Global, the world´s leading eFuels company, today announces that its HIF Tasmania eFuel Facility has been shortlisted for the Australian Government’s $2bn Hydrogen Headstart funding program.
The program, run by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), aims to catalyze Australia’s hydrogen industry to take advantage of the country’s unparalleled opportunity to be a global hydrogen leader.
From a highly competitive Expression of Interest process, HIF Tasmania was one of six projects to be taken forward to the final round. HIF Tasmania is the only eFuel project selected and the only project based in Tasmania.
The facility will be located on a sustainably certified plantation 30km south of Burnie in the state’s North-West and is on track to enter production in 2028.
Ignacio Hernandez, HIF Asia Pacific’s CEO, said: “This is a reflection of HIF Asia Pacific’s efforts to establish this project as a viable option for putting Australia at the forefront of a new carbon neutral industry. HIF has demonstrated that eFuels have a major role to play in decarbonizing the global transport sector with our plant at Haru Oni in Chile, which has been in operation for 12 months. There is colossal unmet demand for sustainable fuels that will continue to increase as the world strives to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. We believe Australia has huge potential as a production base for carbon neutral fuels and working closely with key partners in Tasmania, we are on track to deliver the country's first eFuels plant in 2028.”
Announcing the shortlist, ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the strong interest in the program indicates developer confidence in Australia’s potential to host an important new industry, adding: “Hydrogen Headstart is a crucial step towards keeping Australia on the path to become a global hydrogen leader, creating new export opportunities, while helping to decarbonize our economy. The applicants shortlisted for the next stage provide us with the best opportunity at fast tracking our renewable hydrogen industry.”
eFuels are made using electrolyzers powered by renewable energy to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water. The green hydrogen is combined with recycled carbon dioxide to produce carbon neutral eFuels, which are chemically equivalent to fuels used today and can therefore be dropped-in to existing engines without requiring any modifications.