NSW politicians will investigate the development of a hydrogen industry in the state, with members of the public invited to have their say.
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Chair of the NSW upper house's state development committee, Liberal MP Taylor Martin, announced the inquiry on Tuesday.
It comes after state parliament passed renewable energy legislation, creating the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, in November.
The government says the law will deliver a modern, cheap and reliable energy grid to power NSW into the future.
Mr Martin says the roadmap highlights the economic opportunity presented by developing a hydrogen industry in NSW, including producing, storing and exporting the gas.
"Some of Australia's largest trading partners, including Japan and South Korea, are committed to using hydrogen as a means to decarbonise their economy," Mr Martin said in a statement.
"New South Wales has historically been an energy exporter and we must ensure that we maximise our role in the international hydrogen economy to maintain a strong export base as the world looks for zero-emission energy sources."
The inquiry will look into the economic and employment opportunities which a hydrogen industry would create, as well as NSW's capacity to become a major production, storage and export hub for hydrogen.
It will investigate what would need to happen to develop the industry.
The roadmap law included a guaranteed $50 million in funding over the next decade to develop a green hydrogen sector, proposed by the Greens.
Submissions to the inquiry close in late February.
Australian Associated Press
