Hydrogen Hub Futures

Hydrogen Hub Futures aims to critically examine Australia’s emerging hydrogen industry, focusing on its decarbonisation, economic and social benefits while assessing the hydrogen hub model’s impact on regional communities. The first large ethnographic study of Australia’s emerging hydrogen industry will provide new insights into industrial decarbonisation’s social dimensions, shaping policy recommendations that integrate community perspectives into hydrogen development planning and the future of decarbonised industry.
With hydrogen a key driver of economic growth and emissions reduction, regional hydrogen hubs are positioned as a key model to decarbonise heavy industry. However, there are numerous challenges to their implementation, including their relationship to local communities, which remains largely unexamined. This research will engage with the emerging industry and affected communities to ensure the hydrogen industry delivers its promised benefits while accounting for local needs. Key outcomes include a documentary film capturing community experiences and a policy report to inform sustainable and socially responsible hydrogen development.