International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy

Updated: June 2026

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1. New Initiatives, Programs, and Policies on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

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The Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme is Australia’s voluntary, high‑integrity and government‑backed framework for verifying the emissions intensity and other attributes of commodities, including the certification of renewable electricity.

 

Since commencing in November 2025 with certification of renewable electricity and hydrogen produced via electrolysis, the Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme has moved into an expansion phase. This includes progressing additional certification methodologies to cover hydrogen from gas reforming, solid gasification and pyrolysis (expected later in 2026), as well as the development of methodologies for ammonia, green metals and low‑carbon fuels, in response to industry demand and growing domestic and international certification requirements.

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2. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell R&D Update

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On 20 May 2026, Australia’s National Science Agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), in collaboration with the Mission Innovation Clean Hydrogen Mission, will publish a Survey of Global Hydrogen Technology Patent and Research Publication Output. The report analyses global trends in hydrogen patent filings, research publications, and public RD&D funding across the value chain, showing these as leading indicators of innovation and commercial opportunity. It finds rapid growth since the mid‑2010s—especially in hydrogen production and electrolysis—with China leading volume of activity and the US leading international patenting, reflecting a strategic shift in global hydrogen innovation focus.

 

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3. Demonstration, Deployments, and Workforce Developments Update

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The Hydrogen Headstart program continues to progress implementation of its first funding round, supporting the advancement of large scale renewable hydrogen projects by helping bridge the commercial gap between production costs and market prices. In 2025, $1.25b was allocated to two projects under Round 1.: the Murchison Green Hydrogen Project, which proposes around 1.5 GW of initial electrolyser capacity scaling to 3 GW at full build out to produce up to 2 million tonnes per annum of renewable ammonia; and Orica’s Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub, which plans a 50 MW electrolyser producing approximately 4,700 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year. Round 2 opened for expressions of interest in October 2024.

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4. Events and Solicitations

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• IPHE 45th Steering Committee Meeting (11 – 15 May 2026) Berlin, Germany

• World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition (19 – 21 May 2026) Rotterdam, Netherlands

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5. Investments: Government and Collaborative Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Funding

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To support the development of international supply chains for green hydrogen and its derivatives, the Australian Government has committed to partner on a €400 million) bilateral tender under H2Global with Germany.

This partnership will facilitate market development by bridging the cost gap between renewable hydrogen production and sales prices. It provides the necessary confidence for investors, with 10-year offtake agreements for producers and the security of European buyers for Australian renewable hydrogen products.

 

Officials from Australia and Germany are progressing the development of the bilateral tender, with the first auction for Australian hydrogen expected in the second half of 2026.

 

Australia is a secure and reliable partner, with the ability to supply significant volumes of green hydrogen into overseas markets. Providing options to achieve energy security and domestic and global decarbonisation efforts.

 

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6. Regulations, Codes & Standards, and Safety Update

 

Australia’s Energy & Climate Change Ministers have committed to publishing several National Hydrogen Regulatory Guidebooks to support several types of hydrogen projects:

• Hydrogen Production Facility

• Hydrogen Refuelling Facility

• Hydrogen Pipelines

• Hydrogen Freight by Road

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These Guidebooks seek to provide hydrogen project proponents with transparency over the regulatory obligations which operate, in respect of safety, environment, planning and development, and First Nations across all Australian jurisdictions, when undertaking the aforementioned types of projects.

 

Each of the hydrogen production, refuelling, pipeline and freight by road Guidebooks are anticipated to be endorsed by Commonwealth, state and territory Energy and Climate Change Minister’s and published in 2026. Once published, they will demonstrate both how hydrogen projects interact with Australia’s existing regulatory environment, confirm that Australia’s regulation is fit for purpose for the hydrogen industry, and support the industry to meet its safety and environmental obligations.