The Liberal National Government is supporting the development of hydrogen as a future energy source in Western Australia.

The Hazer Group Limited project, originally developed at the University of Western Australia, enables biogas derived from wastewater treatment plants to be converted into hydrogen and graphite using an iron ore catalyst. This new approach provides another way to produce hydrogen while managing waste products.

Through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the Government has committed $9.41 million in funding towards the project. The funding commitment is conditional on Hazer raising the remaining capital necessary to deliver the project.

The Western Australian Water Corporation owns the project site and operates over 100 wastewater treatment plants across the state. It is estimated the facility will be fully operational and generate enough biogas to be commercially deployed by 2021.

Hydrogen has the potential to deliver economic benefits similar to the growth of the LNG industry in Australia over coming decades; providing reliable, affordable and low emissions energy.

Today's announcement builds on more than $100 million the Government has already invested in hydrogen projects around Australia, and the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy.