Melbourne Hydrogen Hub
Melbourne Hydrogen Hub (MHH)
This project involves the creation of a renewable hydrogen hub focussed on transport uses co-located with the Melbourne Market Authority facilities at Epping in Melbourne’s north.
| Main proponents:
Countrywide Renewable Hydrogen Limited |
Main end-use classification:
Hydrogen mobility (main, including materials handling equipment), gas networks |
Status:
Under development |
Estimated cost:
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| Other involvement:
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Production details:
Approximately 4.5 tonnes of hydrogen per day capacity |
Location:
Victoria, Australia |
Announced funding:
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Project description
Countrywide Renewable Hydrogen (CRH), in cooperation with the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA), is developing a renewable hydrogen hub co-located with the MMA facilities at Epping in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Melbourne Market, more formally the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit & Vegetable Markets, is the main wholesale produce market for Melbourne and the state of Victoria.
The site is strategical placed in the northern Melbourne transport corridor, opening opportunities to supply renewable hydrogen to a fleet of fuel cell buses and trucks that visit the market on a daily basis. The MMA operates 1,100 forklifts powered by LPG, opening opportunities to transition the fleet to emission-free renewable hydrogen.
The project is examining installation of a 10 megawatt (MW) PEM electrolyser, with an output of around 4.5 tonnes of hydrogen per day. The MMA infrastructure offers ‘behind-the meter’ solar power from proposed rooftop arrays with a capacity of up to 25 megawatts (MW). Excess electricity would be available for hydrogen production. Water would be available from on-site storage that holds 40 million litres of rainwater.
A Masterplan is being developed by the Victorian Government for use of the MMA’s 50-hectare greenfield site adjacent to the market facilities where the MHH is proposed to be located on a minority portion of the site.
The project is assessing options for blending hydrogen into local gas networks.
CRH is working with the Victorian Hydrogen Hub to collaborate on the MHH project.
Funding opportunities are presently being pursued.
Updated: July 2021