Partners launch Bundaberg Biohydrogen Technology Cluster

As recognized by State Development Queensland and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), this carbon-negative renewable hydrogen production facility will produce, distribute and dispense hydrogen, including a hydrogen refueling station onsite.

Utilizing biogas derived from the anaerobic digestion (AD) of biomass from community and agribusiness sources, ReCarbon’s proprietary PCCU Plasma will produce fuel cell grade hydrogen cost-effectively.

Hydrogen offtake

The BHTC counts ReCarbon, Utilitas, Bundaberg Regional Council, Hyzon Motors, and Superior Pak as key stakeholders. It is actively inviting other participants in the bioeconomy and hydrogen economy to be part of this first-of-kind initiative.

The notable milestone was strengthened with the commitment of Bundaberg Regional Council to be a major off-taker of the hydrogen, supporting their plan to purchase up to 10 hydrogen fuel-cell electric refuse trucks from the partnership of leading global heavy fuel-cell mobility company HYZON Motors and Bundaberg-based Superior Pak, who build the vast majority of refuse trucks across Australia and New Zealand.

In doing so, Utilitas and ReCarbon seek to build 100 such hydrogen production facilities towards their vision for a distributed hydrogen production and consumption network, where the demand for the hydrogen and the sources from which the hydrogen is produced, are all from the local area, thereby minimizing the cost of transportation and storage, a key cost impediment to the activation of the hydrogen economy.

With the clear positive economic, environmental, and social impact that the BHTC will have on the regional economy, the Cluster has clearly defined plans to bring manufacturing, training, and support; and its connected jobs, to the region.

The project was recently showcased by Bundaberg Regional Council at the Australian Hydrogen Conference.