Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and Melbourne’s Swinburne University of Technology and the Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2) have launched a state-of-the-art clean hydrogen refuelling station, purpose-built for enabling hydrogen research.
The $2.5 million refuelling station uses green hydrogen produced with electricity from renewable sources that allows hydrogen cars to travel over 600km emissions-free on a full tank.
Located at CSIRO’s Clayton site in Victoria, the station showcases the real-world application of hydrogen and will be used to demonstrate hydrogen’s utility for transport.
It will also be used to test emerging hydrogen technology and train the next generation on the use of hydrogen stations to ensure Australia remains internationally competitive.
CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Doug Hilton said hydrogen will play a significant role in Australia’s energy transition and the decarbonisation of our road transport sector.
“The technology is an exciting piece in the puzzle in Australia’s renewable energy future and will deliver long-term community and environmental benefits, boost the economy and create new jobs and opportunities for Australia and Australians,” Dr Hilton said.
“This is innovative, inventive, inspired technology that builds the sovereign capabilities Australia needs to transition to net zero.”
Professor Karen Hapgood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Swinburne University of Technology said the station, co-funded by VH2 and the Victorian Government’s Higher Education State Investment Fund, represented a unique opportunity.
“The launch of the hydrogen station brings Australia another step closer to creating a carbon neutral world by 2050 or earlier,” Professor Hapgood said.
“As a university with sustainability in our DNA, we are proud to be playing an important role in driving the implementation of the hydrogen economy in Australia, through our Victorian Hydrogen Hub and collaboration with CSIRO.
“Hydrogen plays a key part in our transition to clean energy, and demonstration projects such as these help to test technical, regulatory and economic aspects of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, and support the urgent training and workforce development for this expanding hydrogen energy ecosystem.”
The refuelling station can generate up to 20kg of green hydrogen a day via electrolysis, and has a storage capacity of 80kg, enough for more than 10 cars.
The station is a significant component of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Industry Mission, which aims to support national and global decarbonisation through leading research and the development of a commercially viable Australian hydrogen industry, comprising both domestic and export chains.
“Hydrogen is increasingly being recognised as ‘the fuel of the future’ – and for good reason,” Dr Hilton said.
“Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in the universe and, when used to power fuel cell electric vehicles the only exhaust product is water vapour.”
Victorian Hydrogen Hub Director, Mr Gordon Chakaodza said the collaboration with CSIRO was a key pillar in the hub’s mission to further Australia’s hydrogen economy.
“We are using state-of-the-art facilities to demonstrate to industry and the community the capabilities of fuel cell electric vehicles. This will cement Victoria as a key player in accelerating the deployment of hydrogen cars in Australia,” Mr Chakaodza said.
There are currently 12 hydrogen refuelling stations either operating or under construction in Australian and hydrogen cars take about six minutes to fill up from empty, while hydrogen trucks take around 15 minutes to refuel.
