Frontier Energy Ltd (ASX:FHE) has placed an order with sustainable gas technology company ENGV to deliver a hydrogen refuelling station in Perth by 2023 and this short timeframe will make the station one of the first of its kind to be built and operated in Western Australia.
The Western Australian Government’s focus on renewable hydrogen will see hydrogen play an important role in diesel replacement, reducing carbon emissions while helping to reduce reliance on imports. WA currently imports 6.7 billion litres of diesel per annum.
This strategy aligns with the company’s long-term ambition to become vertically integrated across the green hydrogen industry, from clean energy production through to hydrogen sales and exportation.
Multiple sites being explored
Frontier is finalising the location for this station, with multiple, high-profile, central sites in Perth on the table.
Further stations are on the cards, with the company looking at additional locations as part of a plan to roll out a hydrogen highway across the vast state.
Frontier remains on track to commence construction of the Bristol Springs Solar Project by early 2023 and is conducting a renewable energy expansion study as well as a hydrogen study due to be completed mid-year.
Managing director Mike Young said: “Developing Stage 1 of our 114-MWdc Bristol Springs Solar Project remains the major focus in the short-term, as the development of the project demonstrates our commitment to not only talk about building clean energy projects but demonstrates our ability to do so in a meaningful way.
“Stage 1, however, is only the beginning for the company’s longer-term ambition, as we aim to be vertically integrated across all facets of the green hydrogen sector.
“By moving quickly to develop one of the first hydrogen refuelling stations in Western Australia, we are demonstrating our intention to be part of the whole value chain in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries, however still clearly in its infancy.
“The company will continue to assess other opportunities in the sector that add long-term value for shareholders.”
Partners in the project
The order was placed with ENGV, which will work with US-based companies IVYS Inc and PDC Machines Inc, a partnership that has recently delivered the first hydrogen refuelling station in Australia.
IVYS Inc is a Massachusetts-based hydrogen refuelling solutions company focused on bringing safe, cost-effective and readily deployable dispensing and station products to enable clean mobility.
Pennsylvania-based PDC Machines Inc makes hydrogen compressors, hydrogen refuelling stations and related industrial products.
About the refuelling station
Frontier’s first hydrogen refuelling station will be a compact, on-site hydrogen station integrating an electrolyser, compression, storage and dispensing sub-systems to support a fleet of hydrogen vehicles.
The system will be capable of delivering 20 kilograms per day of green hydrogen at 700 bar pressure for fast-fill refuelling adhering to SAE Protocols.
Fuelling will take less than three minutes to completely fill up a 5-kilogram tank from empty.
Powered by renewable energy
Powered by renewable energy, the hydrogen will be produced on demand via polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM)-based water electrolysis, purified to fuel cell quality, and compressed via a contaminant-free diaphragm compressor into on-board buffer storage tanks.
This system is designed to be fully automated, generating and storing hydrogen as necessary to support full pressure refuelling at acceptable flow rates in the compact, distributed fuelling solution.
The design will enable the installation of the system in a safe, practical and efficient way, providing the flexibility to adjust the infrastructure footprint for future growth while minimising congestion.
Frontier's hydrogen station will also connect to external storage equipment, enabling higher use of the system’s hydrogen generation capacity, for example, during periods of low demand. This in turn allows for an increase in supported fuel cell electric vehicle fleet sizes.