Challenges and strategies for Australia including the tidal energy link
The Australian Government recently sponsored a major international conference, The Hydrogen Economy: Challenges and Strategies for Australia – Including the Tidal Energy Link which considered hydrogen as an important potential long term energy carrier for Australia and the world.
The Conference was held in Broome, Western Australia from 18 to 21 May 2003 because of its proximity to the great tidal flows of King Sound in the Kimberley district. The Conference was a resounding success with more than 160 participants attending, including Australian Government ministers and many of the world’s major contributors to advances in the use of hydrogen for energy.
The Conference programme was wide ranging and encouraged a high level of participation from delegates. Presentations reviewed existing overseas and Australian knowledge of hydrogen, and focused on the opportunities and challenges that Australia faces if it is to make best use of hydrogen as a significant new clean fuel.
The Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Wilson Tuckey, addressed delegates nominating hydrogen and hydrogen generated from tidal power as the answer to the challenges facing Australia and the world in sourcing an energy that is renewable, predictable and, of course, replaceable.
Preliminary findings of a national hydrogen study, to be completed later in 2003, were presented at the Conference.
The Conference provided opportunity for the contributions of delegates to be input into the next phase of the study. Both the Conference and the national study are wide ranging and will investigate the potential benefits of hydrogen as a longer term energy carrier for Australia. It will help to develop an informed view of the importance of hydrogen in energy provision for Australia and the world.
