Toyota to build world first hydrogen and renewables plant

Toyota will build the first megawatt-scale hydrogen fuel and renewable generation plant, setting a new energy benchmark that experts hope with pave the way for Australia's hydrogen industry.

By 2030, between 10 million and 15 million cars
and half a million trucks will be hydrogen-powered globally.

Toyota North America will build the plant to support its operations at the Port of Long Beach, in the US, using agricultural waste to generate electricity, water and hydrogen.

Dubbed the Tri-Gen facility, the plant will generate around 2.35 megawatts of electricity and close to one tonne of hydrogen per day, providing enough daily power for more than 2300 homes and 1500 hydrogen-powered cars.

It will come online in 2020, and be used as proof of concept for large-scale hydrogen generation and renewable energy plants.

Read Cole Latimer’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Toyota to build world first hydrogen and renewables plant.”

Vic says renewables + batteries cheaper than peaking gas

The Victorian government has declared the combination of renewable generation and energy storage as the cheapest source of new peaking power, in documents detailing the state’s $25 million large-scale battery storage scheme.

As formally announced last week, the Andrews Labor government is seeking two 20MW battery storage installations – with a total of 100MWh of storage – to be located in the western part of the state where network strength is low and renewables penetration is high.

And it wants them up and running nice and quick, in time for the next summer peak demand period, in January 2018.

This shouldn’t be a problem, considering the exceptionally strong market response to its call for expressions of interest, which attracted more than 100 enquiries.

Read Sophie Vorrath’s story on RenewEconomy - “Vic says renewables + batteries cheaper than peaking gas.”