The Victorian Government has awarded Swinburne University of Technology to build the Victorian Hydrogen Hub (VH2) with CSIRO at Melbourne’s Clayton Laboratory.
As part of the deal, CSIRO will receive $1 million to build a refuelling station to fuel and test hydrogen vehicles.
In addition to the refuelling station, the hub will also house hydrogen production and storage facilities and bring researchers, industry partners and businesses together to test, trial and demonstrate new and emerging hydrogen technologies.
Construction of VH2 is expected to take 18 months.
The refueller project will demonstrate a fleet trial for CSIRO hydrogen vehicles. Car-maker Toyota will be involved in the project, using next-generation Mirai vehicles.
“This is a significant step towards having the necessary refuelling infrastructure to help grow hydrogen opportunities in Australia,” Toyota Australia’s Matt MacLeod said.
CSIRO Executive Director Nigel Warren said the construction of the refuelling station represented a significant development.
“We know hydrogen is clean and will be cost-competitive – but a major barrier to it becoming a fuel source for cars and trucks is how to refuel, and the lack of refuelling infrastructure.”
“The refueller is a significant step towards removing that barrier,” Mr Warren said.
The construction of VH2 also represents one of thirteen regional hydrogen technology clusters covering all Australian states and territories.
“These regional clusters, all of which have the support of their state and territory governments, have been established around key, existing hydrogen projects and technology supply chains in strategic locations that have a demonstrated capacity to support them,” Miranda Taylor, NERA Chief Executive Officer said.
NERA is Australia’s Industry Growth Centre for the energy resources sector.
