Pure Hydrogen’s green hydrogen micro-hub strategy is taking off

Pure Hydrogen leases Archerfield airport industrial site for first demonstration green hydrogen micro-hub
Electrolyser already ordered and first hydrogen production is expected in Q4 2024
The Stage 1, low capex development will use 1000m2 of the 4000m2 site
Remaining land can be used to scale-up operations to meet higher demand

Special Report: Pure Hydrogen has selected an industrial site at Archerfield airport in Brisbane, Queensland, for its first demonstration green hydrogen micro-hub to service commercial transport operators and the aviation industry.

Green hydrogen micro-hubs are one of the key planks in Pure Hydrogen’s (ASX:PH2) strategy to kick start development of a domestic hydrogen market.

These hubs, situated near potential customers, will produce green hydrogen using on-site solar and green electricity to power module-built electrolysers.

These electrolysers are delivered to site fully assembled and will offer 24-hour refuelling for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The hubs are also designed to be easily scalable to meet increasing demand.

PH2 itself is keen to help build such demand with its majority owned -owned subsidiary H-Drive International developing zero-emission solutions for the heavy-vehicle sector.

Its pipeline includes the Taurus truck, Australia’s first hydrogen-powered prime mover that is now available for purchase.

It offers power, acceleration and range of more than 600km while refuelling takes just 15 minutes compared to the hours needed to recharge a battery.

Other products include hydrogen fuel cell waste removal trucks that are currently undergoing trials.

Elevated view of the planned green hydrogen micro-hub at Archerfield airport. Pic: Pure Hydrogen

Hydrogen micro-hub site leased

The company has now signed a five-year lease on a 4000m2 industrial site at Archerfield airport, just 11km from the Brisbane CBD, as its first step in developing a number of ‘CAPEX light’ micro-hubs that can produce green hydrogen using green electricity sourced from the grid.

It has already ordered the electrolyser, expected to cost ~$880,000, which will crack water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

Supply of 420kg per day of green hydrogen will begin Q4 2024 under the first stage of the Archerfield development, which will serve as the template for future micro-hubs.

Stage 1 will take up 1000m2 of the 4000m2 site, leaving room for potential scale-up when demand increases.

Capex will be reduced using existing structures and infrastructure. All equipment – including the electrolyser – will be housed in shipping containers that will be installed on any hard stand site.

“As we communicated in late 2023, Pure is committed to developing a number of low-cost micro-hubs to produce green hydrogen for the commercial transport sector, and Archerfield marks the first step in this regard,” managing director Scott Brown said.

“As well as securing strategic sites, Pure can readily source proven, turnkey hydrogen fuel manufacturing equipment and technology that can be deployed across multiple sites and easily connected to green electricity sources.

“Archerfield will be Pure’s demonstration H2 Micro-hub and the template for planned future plants. The first electrolyser is on order. Pure plans to use strategically located hydrogen micro-hubs that are close to customers and will assist in creating the ‘hydrogen highway’ as a domestic source of clean H2 fuel.

“Pure intends to seek hybrid funding and strategic partners to help build the national domestic H2 infrastructure.”

He added that the company will now focus on advancing site works so that the first green hydrogen fuel can be supplied late in 2024.

“We look forward to providing updates as works get underway. We are also making excellent progress with our sales pipeline of numerous commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles which includes prime movers, buses and waste collection vehicles, and we look forward to updating shareholders on progress here as well.”