South Australia eyes “competitive tender” to fast-track hydrogen, big renewables

South Australia has unveiled plans to fast-track the “next wave” of hydrogen and renewable energy project development in the state, including through a “clear competitive tender process” for government-owned land and waters.

In a draft Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Bill published this week, the Malinauskas Labor government is seeking feedback on a proposal to streamline the process for the development of large-scale wind and solar and commercial hydrogen production projects in South Australia.

The plan is to establish a “one window to government” to bring project planning and development steps like land access, environmental impacts and Native Title rights into a single regulatory process.

Under the proposed Act, companies will compete for licences to access government-owned land and waters identified as suitable to host renewable energy and hydrogen projects.

New licensing arrangements would be established for projects across all land types, enabling regulation of the whole project life cycle, with frameworks in place to protect First Nations people’s rights and interests, as well as fair outcomes for landowners and communities.

Requirements will also be put in place to ensure land is rehabilitated and returned to pre-existing conditions and to ensure that any renewable energy developments are delivered with net environmental benefit, according to the draft bill.

The bill – and its importance – was flagged earlier this year by the state’s head of hydrogen, Sam Crafter,  in an episode of the weekly Energy Insiders podcast. You can listen to that episode here.  

The draft bill makes no mention of any requirements for the competing hydrogen projects to produce green or renewable hydrogen, but does stipulate that only projects targeting the commercial production of hydrogen will be supported through the tender process.

“The draft Bill establishes a licensing and regulatory framework for generating hydrogen for commercial purposes and the development of large-scale renewable energy projects, such as wind farms and solar farms, under a single Act to reduce red tape and regulatory duplication,” an explanatory guide says.

“By implementing a dedicated approach to hydrogen and renewable energy development, proponents can operate with certainty and transparency, utilising a fit-for-purpose framework that prioritises an efficient pathway for development.

“The framework is designed to unlock the billions of dollars in investment on the state’s pastoral land and State waters, deliver early engagement and consent provisions for native title parties, enable benefit sharing with Aboriginal communities, and provide protections and security to the environment, communities, and landowners,” the guide says.