Frontier Energy orders hydrogen refuelling station for Perth metro area
Frontier Energy’s hydrogen refuelling station is expected to be among the first of its kind in Western Australia when it is completed in 2023.
Re-listed junior Frontier Energy (ASX: FHE) has placed an order with sustainable gas technology company ENGV for the delivery of a hydrogen refuelling station in Perth.
The compact unit will integrate an electrolyser as well as compression, storage and dispensing sub-systems to support a fleet of hydrogen vehicles.
The system is designed to be fully automated, generating and storing hydrogen to deliver 20 kilograms per day at 700 bar pressure for “fast-fill” refuelling.
Frontier estimates it will take less than three minutes to fill a 5kg tank from empty.
The station is scheduled for completion next year and will be one of the first of its kind in Western Australia.
Its location is still being finalised, with the company reported to be considering several high-profile central sites in Perth.
Hydrogen highway
Frontier aims to eventually roll-out a hydrogen highway across the state, backed by a government focus on renewable hydrogen as an alternative to diesel.
WA currently imports around 6.7 billion litres of diesel per year.
Managing director Mike Young said it would align with the company’s long-term ambition to become vertically-integrated across the green hydrogen industry.
“By moving quickly to develop the first stations in WA, we are demonstrating our intention to be part of the whole value chain in one of the world’s fastest growing industries,” he said.
“It is still clearly in its infancy and will continue to assess other opportunities in the sector which add long term value for our shareholders.”
Bristol Springs development
Frontier remains focused on stage one development of its Bristol Springs solar project near Waroona.
Last month, the company commenced a renewable energy expansion study to assess opportunities to increase the project’s power capacity beyond 500 megawatts (dc).
It has also embarked on a green hydrogen study which will incorporate future clean energy production from Bristol Springs with potential green hydrogen production utilising surrounding infrastructure.
Bristol Springs is expected to provide enough power for 45,000 homes and abate up to 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
“It demonstrates our commitment to building clean energy projects in a meaningful way,” Mr Young said.
“Stage one is only the beginning for our longer-term ambitions as we aim to be vertically-integrated across all facets of the green hydrogen sector.”
The project remains on track for construction to commence next year.