The Government of Australia and the Government of Germany (‘the Participants') emphasise their strategic partnership, close friendship and determination to work together through enhanced bilateral and multilateral cooperation in line with their Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
The Participants underscore their commitment to the Paris Agreement and ambitious action to address climate change, and their desire for deeper collaboration and partnership towards achieving net zero emissions and keeping the 1.5°C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement within reach. The Participants acknowledge that climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, and that all countries must play their part in the global response.
The Participants recognise that technology-led responses are critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also ensuring economic growth and job creation. They share the ambition to accelerate zero and low emissions technology solutions to achieve cost parity with high emitting alternatives as soon as possible. They highlight the role that hydrogen is expected to play in the future global energy mix and the importance of deep and robust supply chains to their economic and energy security.
The Participants further highlight their complementary strengths, with Australia looking to be a major hydrogen exporter and Germany holding expertise in development of hydrogen technology and aiming to import significant amounts of hydrogen in the future; andthey are determined to lead the development of a global hydrogen market, through collaboration on technology research, development and demonstration, as a key part of our efforts to rapidly accelerate global emissions reductions and reach net zero emissions.
The Participants have thus reached the following understanding:
Paragraph 1
Establishment of the Australia-Germany Hydrogen Accord
- The Participants establish the Australia-Germany Hydrogen Accord (‘the Accord') to enhance collaborative activities in technological innovation, research, development and deployment, to build a global hydrogen industry with deep and robust supply chains, and accelerate pathways to achieve net zero emissions as soon as possible.
- The Accord will foster enhanced practical collaboration on hydrogen, under the umbrella of the Australia‑Germany Energy Working Group (EWG) and within the framework of the Joint Science and Technology Meeting. It will build on existing cooperation through initiatives such as the Joint Declaration of Intent on an Australian-German Supply Chain Feasibility Study of Hydrogen produced from Renewables. The Participants will use the Accord as a means to leverage public and private investment in support of joint hydrogen initiatives.
- The Participants will conduct an annual stocktake of activities under the Accord, with a view to exchanging information on progress of its jointly decided initiatives and consideration of future collaboration opportunities. The EWG will serve as the mechanism for this review unless otherwise jointly decided pursuant to paragraph 4.
- For the Australian side the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction and for the German side the Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy and the Minister for Education and Research (the ‘Lead Ministers') will have responsibility for the Accord and its annual stocktake. An ‘Implementing Minister' will be appointed for each initiative jointly decided on a case by case basis.
- The Participants intend to cooperate in advocating the role of hydrogen and its derivatives, and technology‑led responses to climate change more generally, in the global effort towards a net zero emission economy, including in the context of Australia and Germany's policy guidelines and strategies for the Indo‑Pacific and engagement with industry.
Paragraph 2
Accord Initiatives
- The Participants will focus on practical collaboration and initiatives, and will carry out an initial tranche of activities under this Accord to establish world‑leading hydrogen innovation cooperation, and accelerate an Australian‑German supply chain for the production, transport and use of hydrogen (or its derivatives) produced from renewable energy sources:
- Establishment of the German-Australian Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Incubator (HyGATE) to deliver novel, real‑world pilot, trial, demonstration and research projects along the hydrogen supply chain for hydrogen produced from renewable sources. Germany and Australia commit to contribute up to EUR 50 million and AUD $50 million respectively to deepen collaboration on hydrogen technologies and encourage industry investment from German and Australian consortia. HyGATE will, inter alia, transfer findings from the joint German-Australian feasibility study into projects. Implementing Ministers will be the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction for the Australian side and the Federal Minster for Education and Research for the German side.
- In-principle support to facilitate industry to industry cooperation on German-Australian demonstration projects in Australian hydrogen hubs. Through this process, the Participants will facilitate industry discussion on collaboration opportunities and engagement within available government funding and resources. This recognises that Germany has up to EUR 450 million of available funding for international hydrogen cooperation grants, and Australia has well over AUD 1 billion in funding available through multiple initiatives, including through ARENA, CEFC and various other initiatives. Implementing Ministers will be the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction for the Australian side and the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy for the German side.
- Exploring options to facilitate trade of hydrogen and its derivatives produced from renewable energy sources from Australia to Germany, including through Germany's H2Global initiative. Both Participants will consider opportunities for potential facilitation mechanisms. Implementing Ministers will be the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction for the Australian side and the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy for the German side.
- The Participants will bring together relevant industry representatives and consult with them in order to ensure early involvement in the implementation of the Accord initiatives.
- The Implementing Ministers for each initiative will jointly develop and decide detailed implementation plans as soon as practicable upon the commencement of this Accord, and formalise these plans through an exchange of letters.
- The Participants may announce further initiatives under the Accord from time to time as may be jointly decided by the Lead Ministers or Implementing Ministers.
Paragraph 3
Amendment
This Declaration may be amended at any time by the mutual written consent of the Participants.
Paragraph 4
Termination
This Declaration may be terminated by either Participant giving at least six months' written notice to the other Participant. The Participants will consult to determine how any outstanding matters should be dealt with.
Paragraph 5
Disputes
Any disputes about the interpretation or application of the Declaration will be resolved by consultations between the Participants, and will not be referred to any national or international tribunal or third party for settlement.
Paragraph 6
Duration and Effect
- This Declaration will come into effect on the date it has been signed on behalf of the Participants and will remain in effect until terminated in accordance with Paragraph 4.
- This Declaration represents the understanding reached between the Participants and does not create any legally binding rights or obligations.
Signed in duplicate at ………… and at ………… on …………, in the English and German languages, both texts having equal validity.
For the Government of Australia
The Hon Angus Taylor MP
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction
For the Government of Germany
Mr Peter Altmaier
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy
Ms Anja Karliczek
Federal Minister for Education and Research