CANBERRA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Australia has a "unique opportunity" to develop a world-leading hydrogen export industry, according to the nation's peak scientific body.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Thursday released a roadmap to grow Australia's hydrogen industry.

The report found that "hydrogen presents a new export opportunity for Australia and could also play a significant role in enabling the further uptake of renewable energy."

Larry Marshall, chief executive officer (CEO) of the CSIRO, said that clean hydrogen could be cost-competitive with natural gas by 2025.

The CSIRO announced earlier in August that it had successfully turned hydrogen into ammonia and back again using membrane technology in a world first that will allow hydrogen to be safely shipped worldwide for use as a zero emission fuel.

Transporting hydrogen was previously implausible because of its low density and high flammability.

"Australia has a unique and urgent opportunity to turn significant natural resources, including coal, gas, and renewables like solar and wind energy, into a low-emissions energy product and ship it around the world - in some cases literally exporting Aussie sunshine," Marshall said in a media release on Thursday.

"CSIRO is at the forefront of innovation with our partners in industry, government and the research sector, like our recently developed, world-first membrane to separate hydrogen from ammonia for fuel cell vehicles."

Patrick Hartley, the CSIRO's Hydrogen Future Science Platform director, said there was clear interest in an Australian hydrogen industry.

"We've established a strong network of partners and collaborators that support current, practical research and technology development initiatives right across the hydrogen energy value chain," he said.