Australia commits $50m to find new supply chains for solar, batteries and hydrogen

Australia has committed $50 million towards making sure clean energy supply chains stay safe as part of an agreement with other Quad nations.

The money will be spent exploring how to create new supply chains and diversify existing ones in the Indo-Pacific and will focus on parts used in solar panels, batteries and electrolysers that produce hydrogen.

This will include products and activities like solar ingots, wafer production and battery cells.

In May, Quad leaders signed a pact to strengthen security and shore up clean energy supply chains through the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described climate change as a national security issue following meetings with US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

At the time, Nationals leader David Littleproud said the deal sent a strong message to China about diversifying investment to avoid economic coercion.

On Saturday, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said expanding supply chains was an important step towards achieving net zero targets.

“The world’s climate emergency presents economic opportunities to harness a growing global demand for clean energy,” Mr Bowen said.

He said Indo-Pacific countries would be closely involved with the process so it complemented their own efforts and led to tangible outcomes.

AAP