HYDROGEN for fuel-cell vehicles and domestic energy is to be produced at an $11.4 million plant in the grounds of the old Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd factory in Adelaide’s Tonsley Park Precinct.

The Australia-first Hydrogen Park SA, to be built and operated by Adelaide-based Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), is the result of a $4.9 million grant from the South Australian government’s $150 million Renewable Technology Fund.

The plant will produce the hydrogen from renewable electricity from wind farms and solar cells. The hydrogen will then be injected into the city’s gas distribution network. The addition of hydrogen is claimed to reduce carbon emissions from the gas when used in residences and commercial applications.

However, Hyundai Motor Company Australia manager of future mobility and government relations, Scott Nargar, said the plant and its reticulation system through Adelaide would immediately benefit the forthcoming roll-out of hydrogen fuel-cell cars in Australia by Hyundai and Toyota.

“We’re very excited about the project because, as a car company, it puts the fuel within reach of the consumer and especially fleet businesses,” he said.“We have the cars already – the Nexo that arrives in Australia later this year is the second generation of our fuel-cell cars – and now we just need the infrastructure.”

Mr Nargar said Hyundai was talking with partners involved with the Tonsley Park station and also a second, much larger, proposed station also planned for Adelaide.

“There are also two projects planned for Victoria – including one for the Moreland Council – plus one or two in Sydney. Discussions are now underway in Western Australia and talks in Queensland are centred on setting aside government or council land for a future hydrogen station.” he said.

“It’s finally starting to happen and we now have to ensure that the infrastructure is in the correct locations to benefit as many consumers as possible.”

Honda Australia also said the AGIG project was “an exciting initiative” but said it was not planning to introduce the Clarity liftback into Australia. The Clarity is available in different markets as a hydrogen fuel-cell, hybrid or battery electric vehicle.

AGIG chief customer officer Andrew Staniford said in a statement that “the project is expected to be the first in Australia where renewable electricity is stored and distributed in the gas network as hydrogen, providing an additional market for fluctuating renewable electricity and thereby also improving the economics of renewable electricity”.

“Importantly, it propels South Australia’s status as a leader in renewable technology and a first-mover in hydrogen,” he said.

The project involves the construction of a hydrogen production and distribution facility using a 1.25 mega-Watt electrolyser to produce hydrogen using electricity from the grid and potentially on-site solar.

The hydrogen produced will then be injected into AGIG’s local gas network to power the Tonsley Innovation District but with the ability to be expanded to supply a proposed residential development in the area and other customers through tube and trailer facilities.

The station is almost identical to one operating in Mainz, Germany called EnergiePark Mainz. Like the proposed Adelaide station, the Mainz plant was built by Siemens and Linde and has a 6.0 mega-Watt electrolyser and produces enough hydrogen for about 2000 fuel-cell cars.

SA waives stamp duty, gives free registration to EVs and fuel-cell cars

CONCURRENT with the news of a hydrogen station in Adelaide, the incumbent Labor government of South Australia announced it will waive stamp duty on the purchase of a new electric or zero-emissions car and provide free registration for five years, to encourage the uptake of environmentally friendly vehicles.

The proposal is dependent on Labor retaining power in South Australia and has stated its proposal ahead of the state’s election on March 17 this year.

It said that under the incentives, South Australians who buy a $40,000 electric vehicle will be able to save $2155 over five years in stamp duty and registration

“These incentives are part of Labor’s commitment to decarbonise the transport industry and care for our environment,” its statement said.

“It also supports Adelaide’s aims to become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

“Labor will also continue to lobby the federal government to remove the tariff barriers that currently apply to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles, to encourage more people to switch to these types of vehicles.”

By Neil Dowling