South Australia has signed a historic letter of cooperation with the State of California, marking a new era of collaboration to advance their shared leadership in renewable energy and clean hydrogen technology.
Premier Peter Malinauskas signed the letter in the presence of the Acting Governor of California, Eleni Kounalakis, in Sacramento on Wednesday, during the first leg of his trip to the United States.
Both states have committed to several initiatives including developing world-leading clean hydrogen projects for green hydrogen production and other low-carbon fuels, scaling hydrogen production for use and export, and fostering cooperation between Hydrogen Power SA and California’s Natural Resources Agency and Energy Commission.
They aim to advance the clean energy transition by integrating renewable energy into their grids and exchanging best practices on regulations and standards for a clean hydrogen industry.
Additionally, the agreement focuses on advancing large-scale renewable energy generation and storage, supporting the decarbonisation and electrification of buildings, industry, and transportation to increase grid flexibility, and promoting technologies for better energy efficiency and demand management.
The states will also share best practices for policies supporting zero emission vehicles and invest in charging and refuelling infrastructure.
Further areas of cooperation include transitioning high-emitting industries to low carbon alternatives, protecting communities from climate impacts through nature-based solutions, mitigating methane emissions, fostering research and industry partnerships in low carbon technologies, and strengthening critical minerals supply chains.
“It just makes sense that two global leaders in renewable energy like South Australia and California should work together to advance our shared interests in clean energy to advance our states’ economies and the world’s drive towards decarbonisation,” Malinauskas affirmed.
Like South Australia, California is a global leader in renewable energy, with both states achieving periods where 100 per cent of their energy needs have come from renewable sources.
California has been selected by the United States Department of Energy to be a National Hydrogen Hub, with $1.2 billion invested to accelerate the development and deployment of clean renewable hydrogen.
As part of the State Prosperity Project, South Australia is building the world’s largest hydrogen power plant and electrolyser at Whyalla.
California, the fifth-largest economy in the world, has a nominal GDP of USD 3.9 trillion, compared with Australia’s national GDP of USD 1.7 trillion.
