WA Allocates $33.6M to Clean Energy Innovations

The Western Australian Government has announced $33.6 million in funding for five decarbonisation projects, including a groundbreaking initiative to help remote communities generate power independently and reduce their reliance on diesel generators.

Stephen Dawson, WA’s Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy, revealed that this initiative would receive $5 million as part of the Lower Carbon Grants (LCG) – Gorgon Fund. The program aims to foster innovative decarbonisation solutions and support the state's Diversify WA: Future State Vision for a sustainable and diverse economy.

After a rigorous selection process that reviewed over 30 applications, five projects were chosen for conditional funding. These initiatives target sectors such as hydrogen energy, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), and emission reductions in hard-to-abate industries.

The LCG program provides grants ranging from $5 to $15 million to advance large-scale research and innovation that significantly cuts greenhouse gas emissions or pioneers new low-carbon technologies. It also encourages solutions that address existing supply chain challenges.

“This program highlights our commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Dawson. “These projects could reduce carbon emissions by over 1.5 million tonnes annually—equivalent to removing more than 400,000 cars from the road.”

The funding forms part of a four-year, $40 million agreement between the WA Government and the Chevron-operated Gorgon Project, funded by the Gorgon Joint Venture.

David Fallon, Chevron Australia's Energy Transition General Manager, emphasized the importance of partnerships. “Collaboration between governments and industries will help advance critical technologies needed to meet global energy and climate goals,” he said.

One of the standout projects is the GreenTech Hub, a $4 million initiative managed by Curtin University. Over four years, the hub aims to strengthen WA’s capabilities in green technologies. Its first challenge focuses on advanced energy storage systems to reduce fossil fuel reliance and greenhouse gas emissions.

The hub brings together industry, government, and academic experts to address energy challenges through innovation. Its efforts will include long-duration and scalable storage solutions designed for both urban and remote communities, ensuring a reliable and clean energy future.

Minister Dawson emphasized the importance of the GreenTech Hub in accelerating green entrepreneurship. “The hub will connect and inspire innovation, positioning WA as a global leader in clean energy,” he said.

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