2 months ago - 4 mins read

Australian firm launches containerised hydrogen refuelling station

October 01, 2024
By Matt Lister, Editor
H2H Energy H2CORE40 refuelling a Hyundai NEXO FCEV
H2H Energy H2CORE40 refuelling a Hyundai NEXO FCEV

Well, it looks like Australia just upped its hydrogen game. H2H Energy, one of the nation’s hydrogen refuelling specialists, has launched its H2CORE system, marking the first-ever locally manufactured containerised hydrogen refuelling station.

The H2CORE, in a nutshell, is a high-tech hydrogen pump tucked inside a 40-foot shipping container, capable of delivering hydrogen at 35 or 70 MPa (that’s 350 and 700 bar in old money).

It’s designed to adapt to different vehicle types, from nimble passenger cars to hulking great big road trains.

Hydrogen refuelling Australia

With customisable storage options and a feed from either a bowser or electrolyser, the H2CORE offers a flexible and scalable solution for those needing to get in on hydrogen without waiting for traditional infrastructure to catch up.

It’s a leap up for H2H Energy, whose previous product – the Gateway – was more suited to smaller-scale hydrogen refuelling.

H2H Energy H2CORE40 hydrogen refuelling container
H2H Energy H2CORE40 hydrogen refuelling container

Now, with the H2CORE, they’ve answered the growing demand for larger refuelling stations, especially as Australia starts seeing more hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles rolling onto its roads.

In a few years when we’ve run out of oil and the place is a desolate wasteland starring Mel Gibson, solutions like self-sufficient hydrogen production may well be critical.

Hydrogen infrastructure

If there’s been one big hurdle in hydrogen adoption, though, it’s infrastructure – or more accurately, the lack of it.

Let’s face it: no one’s rushing to buy a hydrogen truck if there’s nowhere to refuel it. That’s where the H2CORE comes in.

Solutions like these are tackling the challenge head-on by providing a practical, ready-to-go refuelling solution that doesn’t rely on waiting for massive refuelling networks to be built.

At the launch event, held at H2H’s Sunshine Coast facility, industry bigwigs and government representatives turned up to see what all the fuss was about.

H2H’s CEO, Cranston Polson, didn’t hold back his enthusiasm. 

“The H2CORE is a game-changer for the industry,” he said, echoing the growing optimism surrounding hydrogen’s potential in Australia.

Australian National Hydrogen Strategy

And with the Australian Government’s latest National Hydrogen Strategy hot off the press, it’s clear that hydrogen is becoming a core component of Australia’s green energy future.

Australia’s transport sector has been buzzing with talk of hydrogen lately, especially among bus operators and logistics companies looking to decarbonise their fleets.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been doing a solid job, but for long-haul trucking and larger fleets, hydrogen offers some serious advantages – think faster refuelling and greater range – which, let’s be honest, is a key requirement in the land Down Under.

With the H2CORE now on the market, hydrogen-powered fleets have one less excuse to stay parked.

Whether it’s refuelling buses in the city or trucks in the outback, the H2CORE is designed to get hydrogen vehicles up and running quickly and efficiently. And since it’s containerised, it can be plopped down pretty much anywhere it’s needed – directly in a truck yard or in a bus depot.

H2H Energy has been at this game for a while now – since 2009, to be precise – and they’ve been building a reputation for delivering innovative hydrogen solutions.

It’s no exaggeration to say that hydrogen is going to be a major player in the future of green transport, and with companies like H2H Energy helping to lead the charge, that future is looking a lot closer.

The next time you see a hydrogen-powered truck thundering across the outback, don’t be surprised if all it’s leaving behind is a trickle of H2O.