Hydrogen in Australia: where are we?
Wednesday 22nd October, 2025
3pm – 4:30pm (AEDT)
Australia’s 2019 National Hydrogen Strategy led to large export-centred projects being envisioned before an industry existed to support them.
In the ensuing shake-out, smaller projects across a range of industries have been funded.
The updated National Hydrogen Strategy 2024 now focuses on accelerating clean hydrogen industry growth, with objectives across supply, demand and decarbonisation, community benefit and trade, investments and partnerships.
Hear from experts about what is happening in Australia in relation to government policy and incentives, key developments in industry, and research projects underpinning tomorrow’s developments.
PRESENTERS
Welcome and Introduction
Prof. Irene Penesis, Research Director, Blue Economy CRC
Presentation 1: Hydrogen and the coordination challenge
Fiona Simons, CEO, Australian Hydrogen Council
Australia’s clean industry transition sits at an inflection point, with market contraction on one hand, and clearer policy definition on the other. The updated National Hydrogen Strategy (2024), Net Zero Plan, and Future Made in Australia policy package are beginning to align hydrogen, derived chemicals, and low-carbon metals within a coherent national framework. This presentation will trace how those policies translate into project activity, investment signals, and the design of common-user infrastructure.
Presentation 2: Toyota Australia Hydrogen Insights
Andrew Willis, Business Development Manager, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia
The presentation sets out Toyota’s vision of hydrogen as a key fuel for carbon neutrality based around a modular fuel cell system with applications in commercial vehicles, passenger cars, buses, rail and stationary generators. Developments in Australia, including a stationary fuel-cell generator and hydrogen internal-combustion engine trial will be presented.
Presentation 3: Hydrogen in Australia 2025 and beyond
Dr Andrew Dicks, CEO, Australian Hydrogen Research Network
In November 2024, the federal government issued an update on the National Hydrogen Strategy of 2019. Although some projects announced in response to the original national strategy have not achieved FID, a significant number of hydrogen developments continue supported by funding agencies such as ARENA. These are underpinned by a large number of scientists and engineers brought together under the Australian Hydrogen Research Network (AHRN). This presentation will outline some of the key developments and active fields of research.
Presentation 4: The Blue Economy CRC’s Hydrogen Production and Research Facility
Prof. Evan Gray, Griffith University and Programme Leader, Blue Economy CRC
The BE CRC’s Hydrogen Production and Research Facility deploys a 700-kW PEM electrolyser to produce green hydrogen for research and other purposes, including mobility. In this presentation the facility will be introduced and the associated research into offshore energy supply conducted with the electrolyser and the attached DC microgrid will be described.
Presentation 5: Potential for hydrogen-powered Australian ships and boats
Andrew Harris, Principal Naval Architect, BMT
The future Australian market for low emissions vessels differs substantially from other areas such as Europe and the Americas, offering many opportunities for development, yet to date there are no hydrogen-powered vessels in our country. The Blue Economy CRC’s recently completed H2 Powering of Vessels Project, aimed specifically at the Australian maritime sector, will be introduced. Based on three case studies, the quantified benefits of hydrogen to emissions reduction will be covered, as well as identification of enablers and blockers to adoption. Finally, cost analysis and recommendations will be presented, looking towards the first Australian hydrogen-powered vessel.
Followed by Q&A hosted by Professor Irene Penesis and Simon Wilcox.
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) and the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre have joined forces to deliver FRDC project 2023-080: Alternative energy solutions for aquaculture supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government.
PRESENTED BY
Name: Fiona Simon
Affiliation: CEO, Australian Hydrogen Council
Fiona Simon is the CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC), the peak body for the Australian hydrogen industry.
AHC connects the hydrogen industry and its stakeholders in building a secure, clean and resilient energy future that sustainably produces and uses hydrogen within the energy mix. AHC’s members are from a range of sectors, including energy, transport, consulting, banking and technology.
Prior to joining the Australian Hydrogen Council, Fiona worked for close to 20 years in energy policy and regulation, specialising in energy retail competition and consumer protection matters.
Fiona holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Melbourne. She has published a well-regarded academic book on retail energy regulation in Australia.
Name: Andrew Willis
Affiliation: Business Development Manager, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia
Andrew has 30+ years’ experience within the automotive industry.
Within Toyota Australia, he has held multiple National Manager roles across the business including Export Planning, Government Affairs & Trade Policy, Office of the President, Environment Policy and Risk & Compliance. Mr. Willis has been a member of a broad range of industry associations and their committees. Notably, he was a Director/Board member for the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries representing member interests over a number of years. Andrew has also been an active participant and key industry representative in government working groups relating to topics such as: New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES), End of Vehicle Life (EVL) and the local manufacturing industry transition.
Mr. Willis currently manages the Hydrogen Initiatives and Engagement team within Toyota’s New Business Solutions division and is based out of Victoria’s first operational Hydrogen refuelling station at Toyota’s Altona North site.
Name: Andrew Dicks
Affiliation: CEO, Australian Hydrogen Research Network
Dr Andrew Dicks has been involved in the development of energy technologies ranging from coal gasification to integrated solar BESS systems over a career that has spanned several decades.
He has led hydrogen and fuel cell research in industry and universities in the UK, Canada and Australia. He has played an active role in the development of hydrogen industry in Australia since 2008, when he chaired the World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Brisbane. His wealth of knowledge in technology and the international hydrogen industry is exemplified as the lead author of the acclaimed textbook Fuel Cell Systems Explained.
Andrew currently is CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Research Network, is Adjunct Principal Research Fellow at Griffith University, and advises companies such as Lion Energy and Stralis Aircraft in the emerging hydrogen industry. Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Chartered Chemist.
Name: Evan Gray
Affiliation: Professor and Program Leader, Griffith University and Blue Economy CRC
Evan Gray has research interests focused on the physics of energy-related materials, including hydrogen storage materials and superconductors, and modelling energy systems. He has worked on materials for solid-state hydrogen storage for more than 30 years, using national and international neutron and synchrotron beam facilities to study structure-function relationships.
Evan manages the National Hydrogen Materials Reference Facility at Griffith University, which provides authoritative measurements of the uptake of hydrogen from ppm levels in high-strength steels to quantities for energy storage, at temperatures from cryogenic to 1000 Celsius, and hydrogen pressures from ultra-high vacuum to thousands of atmospheres.
Evan has a strong interest in the deployment of hydrogen-energy technologies in Australia. A focus on physics-based modelling of energy systems has developed around the pioneering Sir Samuel Griffith Centre, which incorporates hydrogen energy technology (electrolyser, metal-hydride hydrogen storage, fuel cell) to allow the building to operate off the electricity grid.
Name: Andrew Harris
Affiliation: Principal Naval Architect, BMT
Andrew Harris is a naval architect with 25 years of experience, primarily in UK naval ship procurement and in service support. He graduated with a Batchelor’s degree in ship science from the University of Southampton in 1995 and joined BMT the following year. Since relocating to South Australia in 2019 Andrew has undertaken support to marine renewable energy projects alongside his more usual naval sector work.
Andrew has a developing professional interest in the exploitation of renewable energy technology, and he is a passionate advocate of marine sustainable development.
FACILITATED BY
Name: Prof Irene Penesis
Affiliation: Research Director, Blue Economy CRC
Professor Irene Penesis is the Research Director of the Blue Economy CRC. Irene is the founding Research Director and was the bid leader responsible for developing the successful application to the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program. She also served as Acting CEO of the Blue Economy CRC during a key transition period, providing leadership and stability for the organisation. Irene led the development of the Hydrogen Production & Research Facility, a flagship initiative of the CRC. This facility is central to the CRC’s mission, providing a world-first capability for research, demonstration, and workforce training in offshore renewable hydrogen production. It supports industry adoption, emissions reduction, and builds Australia’s long-term competitiveness in the global clean energy economy.
Name: Simon Willcox
Affiliation: Projects Lead – Blue Policy and Planning·Blue Economy CRC
Dr Simon Willcox is the Projects Lead – Blue Policy and Planning for the Blue Economy CRC.
Simon has a PhD in marine ecology from the University of Tasmania and has worked extensively across public and private sectors in natural and cultural resource management.
Simon is a strong advocate for sustainable and effective use of our aquatic resources and has over 25 years of experience working in project management, policy and legislation development, and regulation and assessment of industry. Simon has outstanding skills in stakeholder management and navigating to effective and strategic solutions in complex environments.
