• Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia
• Federal Ministry of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany

The Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry, Science, Energy and Resources of Australia and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research of the Federal Republic of Germany (thereafter: sides) emphasize the shared values and close relationship between Australia and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Both sides acknowledge the valuable cooperation in energy research over many years, as well as the significant potential of both countries in the production, storage, transport and use of hydrogen produced from renewables and share the following understanding:

The sides intend to jointly fund a feasibility study to investigate the Australian-German supply chain involving the production, storage, transport and use of hydrogen (including hydrogen based energy carriers, such as ammonia),  produced from renewables. The sides expect to start the feasibility study in 2020 for the duration of approximately 24 months.

This feasibility study will focus on the:

1. Comparison of the current technology and research readiness levels along the whole supply chain;
2. Exchange of technologies, knowledge and experiences between the partners on both sides;
3. Assessment of Australian potential to produce hydrogen and hydrogen based energy carriers from renewables for export to Germany and associated markets;
4. Identification of economic, technological and regulatory requirements for the transport of and trade in hydrogen and hydrogen based energy carriers produced from renewables;
5. Determination of demand and end use for hydrogen and hydrogen based energy carriers produced from renewables in relevant industries in Germany and associated markets;
6. Identification of economic, scientific, technological, regulatory and logistical barriers of the feasibility of the supply chain; and
7. Identification of business models for hydrogen and hydrogen based energy carriers produced from renewables.

This feasibility study will be jointly managed and financed by both sides. The Australian side will fund the Australian partners, the German side will fund the German partners, according to existing national rules, regulations and funding procedures.

The sides will regularly exchange information on progress of this Joint Declaration of Intent.

This Joint Declaration of Intent is not legally binding and does not restrict cooperation with any third parties, including bilaterally between the sides. It does not create any legal, contractual, or financial rights or obligations for either side.  Both sides intend for activities under this Joint Declaration of Intent to be conducted in accordance with their respective domestic laws and regulations.

This Joint Declaration of Intent was signed in Canberra, Australia and Berlin, Germany on 28 August 2020 in the English and German languages, both texts being equivalent.