Toyota Ecopark Hydrogen Demonstration

September 23rd, 2020

Toyota Ecopark Hydrogen Demonstration (Toyota Hydrogen Centre)

Toyota Australia is developing its decommissioned car manufacturing plant in Altona into a renewable energy hub to produce renewable hydrogen for use in both transport and stationary applications.

Main proponents:

Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited

 Main end-use classification:

Power use, hydrogen mobility

 Status:

Under construction – the electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling station are expected to be fully operational in the latter part of 2021

 Estimated cost:

AUD$7.37 million
Other involvement:

 

 Production details:

Hydrogen production – 60 kilograms per day

 Location:

Victoria, Australia

 Announced funding:

AUD$3.07 million – Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

AUD$4.30 million – Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited

Project description

The purpose of the project is to develop part of Toyota Australia’s decommissioned car manufacturing plant in Altona, Melbourne, into a renewable energy hub to produce renewable hydrogen for use in both transport and stationary applications.

Toyota Australia produced nearly 3,500,000 motor vehicles in Australia for over 50 years until the closure of the Altona manufacturing facilities in October 2017.

The Altona site, while no longer hosting manufacturing facilities, is being repurposed through a three stage plan into a zero emission Centre of Excellence.

The Toyota Ecopark Hydrogen Demonstration (Toyota Hydrogen Centre) project is the second phase of the Altona site transformation process. The project includes the following main elements:

  • on-site 87kilowatt (kW) solar PV (in conjunction with an existing 500kW PV array and with grid back-up in case required) would feed an (260kW) electrolyser which will produce at least 60 kilograms (kg) of hydrogen per day (electrolyser capacity is at 80 kg per day). Excess solar power not used in the electrolysis process can be stored in batteries and used to supply (renewable) electricity to the Altona facilities.
  • the produced (renewable) hydrogen would be used to (a) supply electricity through the use of a fuel cell to the Altona facilities, and (b) through a hydrogen refuelling station, fuel hydrogen powered vehicles such as in the use of fuel cell forklifts at the Altona site warehouse or Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV).
  • Construction of a Hydrogen Education Centre to promote hydrogen innovation and education

A graphical representation of the solar PV/battery and renewable hydrogen end-to-end process is included in the attached presentation by Toyota Australia.

Construction on the facilities began in 2019. The Hydrogen Education Centre was completed in March 2020 with the electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling station expected to be fully operational in the latter part of 2021.

The cost of the project is estimated at around AUD$7.4 million.

Toyota has identified lessons learnt in establishing the project, including in planning, permitting and stakeholder engagement.

Milestones

March 2019:  ARENA announces a grant of AUD$3.07 million to support the project.

 

Updated: July 2021