The Territory has a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and hydrogen can play a critical role in achieving this target.
The Territory is positioning itself to be at the forefront of the developing hydrogen industry and aspires to be an international scale renewable hydrogen technology research, production and downstream manufacturing centre.
To achieve this vision the Northern Territory Renewable Hydrogen Strategy has been developed. The strategy articulates the potential hydrogen opportunities and the Territory’s competitive advantages. The Territory will leverage these to be an Australian centre for hydrogen technology research, production and use.
Read the Northern Territory Hydrogen Strategy on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade website.
The Northern Territory Renewable Hydrogen Master Plan provides a framework for the development of a renewable hydrogen industry in the Northern Territory with a focus on enabling activities required to secure private sector investment.
The master plan builds on the renewable hydrogen strategy’s vision to be a leader in the transition to renewable hydrogen as the Territory continues to adapt its priorities to the accelerating pace of renewable hydrogen industry development.
The master plan provides an analysis of the Territory’s renewable hydrogen aspirations and describes the foundational work required to build a renewable hydrogen industry that benefits the whole of the Territory.
Emerging industries such as renewable hydrogen will have a key role in the Northern Territory Government’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Forecasts show that if Australian hydrogen becomes the energy of the future, GDP is estimated to be $26 billion higher by 2050 than a business as usual scenario, with an added 16,900 full-time equivalent jobs.
If the Territory were to capture a similar proportion of Australia’s hydrogen production as it already has for natural gas, this could mean $3.7 billion in growth and 2,500 jobs.
To keep pace with the fast paced nature of renewable hydrogen industry, the master plan is designed to be a dynamic long-term planning document, with activities delivered in 2 parallel parts.
Part 1: Laying the foundations – will build the Territory’s competitive advantage and identify areas that require further development to optimise government and private sector investment. The Territory will focus on building the foundations to support the growth of a local renewable hydrogen industry and create opportunities for the early adoption of renewable hydrogen as a fuel source.
Part 2: Scaling to export – will be based on a detailed assessment of the international hydrogen market and supply chains. This reflects the nascent and developing nature of the renewable hydrogen industry and provides an opportunity for the Territory to consider the alternative development pathways available to scale to export which could emerge as the industry and technology matures.
To find out more about the pathway to renewable hydrogen, read the Northern Territory Renewable Hydrogen Masterplan PDF (11.2 MB).
A strong local supply chain is essential to support the growth of a future hydrogen industry and to maximise economic benefits for Territory businesses.
To boost the hydrogen sector, the master plan prioritises undertaking a Territory hydrogen ecosystem and value chain analysis to enable increased local business participation in renewable hydrogen opportunities.
In April 2024, the department engaged Industry Capability Network NT (ICN NT) to undertake NT Hydrogen Supply Chain mapping to better understand the detailed components of a future hydrogen industry in the Territory, specifically from a local industry capability perspective.
The Supply Chain Map offers a graphical overview of the hydrogen supply chain in the Territory, including relevant feedstock inputs, production pathways, processes, applications and likely end uses of hydrogen. It examines both green hydrogen (water electrolysis) and blue hydrogen (natural gas with carbon capture), assessing these production pathways individually and holistically.
Developing the Supply Chain Map involved extensive research and analysis to determine the most likely future scenarios and timeframes for the Territory’s hydrogen industry. ICN NT conducted detailed consultations with industry experts and other stakeholders to ensure the map is an accurate and comprehensive representation.
Download the NT Hydrogen Supply Chain Map PDF (3.0 MB) and explanatory note that highlights key assumptions and prioritisations, to present a realistic projection of the Territory’s hydrogen industry’s future.