Viva Energy Australia on track to open its first hydrogen service station
The company has made further progress in its plans to build an installation to serve commercial transport fleets late next year.
Viva Energy has made significant advancements in the development of its hydrogen refuelling station. The company is looking to serve Australia’s most prominent commercial transport fleets with the new facility set to be operational by late 2023 in Geelong.
The firm has placed orders for a 2.5MW electrolyser for green hydrogen production and a fast-fuelling hydrogen dispensing system capable of servicing multiple vehicles at once. The equipment is expected to be delivered by the third quarter of next year as a first of its kind for the Australian market.
The electrolyser will use renewable electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen while the recycled water will be supplied from Barwon Water’s Northern Water Plant. Nel Hydrogen US, a subsidiary of Norwegian Nel ASA, will provide the containerised electrolyser jointly with local partner ENGV.
The company is also partnering with Air Liquide to provide a “fast fill” refuelling package tailored to attend to at least 10 trucks or buses consecutively. The system will be capable of dispensing 300 kg. Of hydrogen in just two hours, which will let Viva Energy’s alternative fuel customers have a similar experience to refuelling with traditional fuel.
Viva will be able to generate and deliver more than 1,000 kg of green hydrogen daily, which can power a fleet of at least 15 hydrogen fuel cell heavy vehicles. The first site is expected to kick off the project to build new hydrogen stations reaching from Geelong and Melbourne to Sydney and Brisbane.
Viva Energy announced its plans to build a hydrogen mobility network across Australia back in March of this year. The company is seeking to set up several service stations that can offer customers the alternative fuel while also providing electric vehicle recharging. This will help in bringing together zero emission technologies to support Australia’s energy transition.
