New hydrogen car refuelling station opens in Victoria

A $2.5 million ‘green hydrogen’ refuelling station developed by the CSIRO and Swinburne University of Technology officially opened in Melbourne’s south-east last week as the two organisations continue their research into hydrogen transport.

The station is located at the CSIRO’s Clayton site and will primarily be used to showcase the real-world applications of hydrogen technology for smaller fleet vehicles as well as heavy-duty haulage, demonstrating the fuel type’s practicality given vehicles need only a short time to refuel.

In hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), such as the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai NEXO, the only tailpipe emission is water, while hydrogen internal combustion engines, as demonstrated by the Toyota HiAce Hydrogen currently amidst a pilot program in Melbourne, are ultra-low-emissions vehicles.

Other applications of the facility will include the local testing of emerging hydrogen technology and, according to the CSIRO and Swinburne, “train the next generation on the use of hydrogen stations to ensure Australia remains internationally competitive”.

Up to 20kg of green hydrogen is produced daily at the station which has a storage capacity of 80kg – enough for more than 10 cars. Renewable energy sources are used for fuel production, hence the term ‘green hydrogen’.

CSIRO chief executive Doug Hilton said hydrogen should play a significant role in decarbonising Australia’s 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,” he said.

“Hydrogen is increasingly being recognised as ‘the fuel of the future’ – and for good reason.

“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.”

Swinburne University of Technology research deputy vice-chancellor Karen Hapgood also said hydrogen was critical for Australia’s transition to clean energy.

“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,” she said.

The Clayton facility’s opening takes the total number of operational or pending hydrogen refuelling stations in Australia to 12.

Car companies such as Toyota and Hyundai are pressing ahead with the development of both FCEVs and hydrogen ICE-powered vehicles, although the chronic lack of refuelling infrastructure has limited their expansion and pushed out proposed sales to private buyers by several years.

Toyota Australia, in particular, sees hydrogen cars as a compelling and affordable alternative to EVs, particularly for people who live in rural areas, travel long distances and require high load-carrying and towing capabilities.