Green hydrogen technology company Hysata has appointed resources heavyweight Dean Dalla Valle as its inaugural chair.
"His expertise will have a huge impact on our mission to deliver the world's most efficient, simple and reliable electrolyser," Hysata chief executive Paul Barrett said on Thursday.
Mr Barrett said the appointment will help advance the renewable energy industry and create new exports including green iron, alumina, ammonia and methanol.
Local to the Illawarra region where Hysata started, Mr Dalla Valle began his career at BHP as a 17-year-old electrical apprentice.
He joins Hysata's board after four decades in the resources and infrastructure sectors, including as chief commercial officer at BHP and chief executive at Pacific National.
Green hydrogen is touted as a vital alternative fuel for achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions, particularly for steelmaking, heavy transport, fertilisers and chemical refineries.
"There is significant current and growing global demand for hydrogen electrolysers to help decarbonise the hard-to-abate sectors that account for 15-20 per cent of the world's emissions," Mr Dalla Valle said.
Australia faces stiff competition in the sector from heavily subsidised rivals in the United States and elsewhere.
But Mr Dalla Valle said Hysata's approach to mass manufacturing will "redefine the economics of green hydrogen".
Supported by seed money from Australia's green bank, Hysata has attracted venture capital from steel company BlueScope, superannuation fund Hostplus and international investors.
