The 'low emissions' megatrend:

Is it too early to invest in green hydrogen?

Insync Fund Managers

December 2023

The 'low emissions' megatrend is decarbonising business models, driving long term value for investors and helping corporates and countries attain climate related goals.

Insync Funds Management CIO, Monik Kotecha said, 'The main levers of the low emissions megatrend are cost competitive renewables that have experienced massive drops in their establishment, then production costs, compared to their fossil fuel and nuclear peers.'

This, he said, is what is driving the 'electrification of everything' including transportation, heating, industrial operations, etc. 'More than just clean energy generation, it also encompasses digitally optimised energy efficiency systems, decentralised energy generation and overhauling entire electricity grids.'

Half of the world's demand for energy is projected to be served by 'clean molecule' sources by 2050 and hydrogen, the first, lightest and most abundant element in the universe, is set to play a vital role.

'Electrification alone won't get us to net zero,' Mr Kotecha said. 'Hydrogen as part of an energy mix could supply sectors not suited to electricity, such as heavy machinery and heavy industries, in lieu of fossil fuels.'

Seen as a potentially environment-friendly transformative force Mr Kotecha said hydrogen is an enticing prospect for investors, green hydrogen in particular. 'However, it is vital to temper enthusiasm with a dose of realism, given the hurdles on the path to profitability.'

At the heart of the challenge, he said, lies competition with fossil fuels. 'Currently, they are more cost-effective and often heavily subsidised by governments, which means green hydrogen is dependent on external private financial support. Subsidised carbon economics continues to dominate over environmental concerns, and this will remain a challenge until subsidies, scale, infrastructure, and technology advances for green hydrogen level up the current 'unlevel' playing field.'

Most hydrogen today is produced by extracting it from oil, coal or natural gas. In order to justify substantial capital investment for an environment-friendly production source, high-capacity utilisation is essential.

'Green hydrogen is made by splitting the water molecule via electrolysis to create hydrogen. This demands a stable green power source, which is no small feat - although this complex issue is rapidly being overcome.'

A variation to green hydrogen is pink hydrogen (electrolysis powered from nuclear energy). New salt based nuclear reactors already under construction could proffer a cost effective and far safer and environmentally friendly power source than today's typical fission reactors, thus meeting the need for stability of supply.

However, it is likely that the green hydrogen sector will require a more extended investment horizon to realise its full potential or until new technology breakthroughs like those encountered in solar impact the economics.

'In other words, unfortunately, we don't think green hydrogen has yet reached an essential economic tipping point to be a profitable component of the low emissions megatrend, nor produce companies that meet our high profitability criteria, but we will continue to watch and see.'

Funds operated by this manager:

Insync Global Capital Aware Fund, Insync Global Quality Equity Fund

Disclaimer
Equity Trustees Limited ("EQT") (ABN 46 004 031 298), AFSL 240975, is the Responsible Entity for the Insync Global Quality Fund and the Insync Global Capital Aware Fund. EQT is a subsidiary of EQT Holdings Limited (ABN 22 607 797 615), a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: EQT). This information has been prepared by Insync Funds Management Pty Ltd (ABN 29 125 092 677, AFSL 322891) ("Insync"), to provide you with general information only. In preparing this information, we did not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It is not intended to take the place of professional advice and you should not take action on specific issues in reliance on this information. Neither Insync, EQT nor any of its related parties, their employees or directors, provide and warranty of accuracy or reliability in relation to such information or accepts any liability to any person who relies on it. Past performance should not be taken as an indicator of future performance. You should obtain a copy of the Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision about whether to invest in this product.

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Market Commentary - November

Glenmore Asset Management

December 2023

Funds operated by this manager:

Glenmore Australian Equities Fund

Hedge Clippings | 15 December 2023

No wonder there's a property crisis - and it's not just because in the 12 months to 30 June Australia recorded a net annual gain of 518,000 people, with migrant arrivals up 73% year on year to 737,000. Temporary visa holders numbered 554,000, while departures decreased marginally by 2% to 219,000. To what extent this represents a catch-up post COVID remains to be seen, but with a population of just 26 million this represents a huge influx - and a massive supply/demand imbalance when it comes to housing and infrastructure.

Australia's economy has always benefited from migration, and with 910,000 jobs created over the last two years, and historically low unemployment, there's nothing to fear from the numbers.  Australia needs migrants to fill job vacancies, and to maintain the record of growth. As the federal government announced this week, going forward the "mix" of migrants is to change, although we're not confident that when they announce the details they'll get the balance right. Being politicians, there's always the risk they'll make decisions based on the next election, rather than what's best for the long term economic and social benefit of the country as a whole.

Even though unemployment inched up by 0.1% in November to 3.9%, with 19,000 joining their ranks, employment increased by 61,000 people, resulting in the employment to population ratio reaching a record high of 64.6%, and the participation rate also at an all time high of 67.2%. But back to property...

All too often Hedge Clippings' focus is on interest rates and inflation. However, in spite of the Doomsday merchants and some so-called property experts predicting a 20% to 30% fall in property prices and widespread mortgagee sales as the RBA jacked up interest rates, this hasn't occurred. Prices have remained strong. One reason - and possibly the major one - for the property crisis in Australia is simply the imbalance between supply and demand - economics 101. According to Brook Monahan of Mosaic Property Group, who operates a highly successful building/development business in SE Queensland,  Australia wide in the year to March 2023, homes were needed for an additional 226,000 households. Only 170,000 were completed. Next year is worse, with a forecast of just 153,000 new homes completed.

As a nation, Australia has never completed more than 191,000 new homes, and the ten year average is 173,000. The target requirement is 240,000. In other words, we're simply going backwards, and cost pressures and lack of effective decision making by governments of all persuasions is not going to help. As Monahan continues, until there is action on a policy front (because winding back migration is not the solution), the current housing shortage will continue to drive rents higher still, and worsen housing affordability.

Forecast reductions in interest rates towards the end of 2024 on the back of falling inflation won't help, although it will help those with existing mortgages.

And so as we end 2023 and look both backwards and forward, we'd have to say it's been a challenging year, and next year is likely to be the same. Meanwhile, Hedge Clippings will be taking a short, but (we think) well earned break, so this will be the last edition before we return in the New Year. Until then, we'd like to thank you for your time and attention over the past year, and wish you and your family a Happy Christmas, and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year.

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