Toyota Australia has launched Victoria’s first commercial-grade permanent hydrogen production, storage and refuelling facility in Melbourne’s west, further strengthening the State’s hydrogen credentials.
The facility forms part of the Toyota Hydrogen Centre which will also feature an Education Centre to provide information on how hydrogen fuel cells work and the benefits to society, helping to dispel any myths around the safety and use of hydrogen as a fuel.
Hydrogen is produced on site by a 200kW electrolyser that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen components and has the capacity to produce up to 80kg of hydrogen per day.
Power for the electrolyser is drawn from a combination of an 87kW solar array, a 100kW battery storage and mains grid depending on what’s available at the time.
The hydrogen is then stored in a bank of storage tubes at medium and high pressure to be able to refuel forklifts and hydrogen FCEVs, like the new Mirai FCEV.
Toyota Australia President and CEO Matthew Callachor said the Toyota Hydrogen Centre was built to showcase the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology as part of its commitment to developing sustainable technologies for future mobility and energy needs.
“Globally, Toyota is committed to achieving zero CO2 emissions from its vehicles and plants under the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050 and the commissioning of our hydrogen refuelling facility here today is an important step towards achieving that goal,” Mr Callachor said.
Dr Patrick Hartley, CSIRO Hydrogen Industry Mission said: “The infrastructure which is being commissioned at this new Toyota facility will not only progress the deployment of hydrogen vehicles, which can make a major contribution to helping our transport sector navigate Australia’s energy transition, but it will also serve as a beacon to other companies looking to invest in hydrogen transport technology.”
The establishment of the centre is another big win for Victoria’s hydrogen industry, with operations recently commencing in the State as part of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain Pilot Project - the world's largest hydrogen export demonstration project.
To explore opportunities for investing in Victoria’s hydrogen industry, contact us.
