Toyota site in Altona to become hydrogen production and refueling center | Business

Toyota and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) will invest $ 7.4 million to turn part of Altona's abandoned car manufacturing site into a quality hydrogen production and refueling site commercial.

The new center will demonstrate the processes required to produce hydrogen from renewable sources by electrolysis and subsequent compression and storage.

Arena says that the center, once operational, will produce at least 60 kg of renewable hydrogen each day, with photovoltaic solar panels and on-site battery accumulators providing electricity to meet the project's energy needs. .

Matt Callachor, President and CEO of Toyota Australia, said the new Altona site facility would help the automaker achieve its goal of zero CO2 emissions from sites and vehicles. here 2050.

"Hydrogen has the potential to play a crucial role in the future because it can be used to store and transport energy from wind, solar and other renewable sources, including for vehicles such as electric vehicles. Toyota Mirai fuel cell, "Callachor said. .

"At the present time, the lack of infrastructure is the most determining factor for the success of hydrogen," said Toyota's chief. "The sooner we adopt a zero emission company, the better, and Toyota is committed to making it a reality."

The Morrison government has opened public consultations on a national hydrogen strategy, after hiring Australia 's senior scientist to develop a roadmap with cooperation from Canberra and states.

This initiative follows a commitment made by the Labor Party in January to reserve $ 1 billion from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to develop clean hydrogen and invest up to $ 90 million. of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for research, demonstration and pre-commercial deployment. hydrogen technologies.

Hydrogen is promoted to replace natural gas. It is used abroad in the transport sector and in the production of electricity.

Last December, Chief Scientist Alan Finkel recommended that federal and state energy ministers take three immediate steps to develop the industry. He recommended that works permit up to 10% of hydrogen in the domestic gas network, including making the required regulatory changes and implementing technical standards.

He added that governments should have the opportunity to build hydrogen refueling stations in each state and territory, focused on heavy transport, and undertake what he described as "coordinated international outreach to continue to strengthen the profile of Australia to key trading partners as a potential supplier ".

Finkel said heavy vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells could meet the growing demand for zero-emission transport, and replacing hydrogen with natural gas was a cost-effective way to decarbonate direct combustion.

Arena CEO Darren Miller said on Tuesday that the demonstration of low-cost hydrogen production and distribution at the Altona site "is essential for the adoption of hydrogen powered electric vehicles in areas such as fleets of trucks, buses and public parks ".

Miller praised Toyota's decision to invest in local hydrogen infrastructure.

"Australia has a competitive advantage to play a global role in the emerging hydrogen export market because of our existing expertise and infrastructure," said the head of the company. Arena.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor said Australia had the potential to be a "world leader in hydrogen" because of its abundant energy resources and its proximity with the emerging export markets of Northeast Asia.

Toyota's hydrogen refueling and electrolyser station is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2020.