Phase 1 of SunHQ will involve a 1MW PEM electrolyser, supplied by Plug Power, which will produce green hydrogen from a behind-the-meter connection to the co-located 121MWac Sun Metals solar farm. Compression, storage and refuelling facilities will be located adjacent to the electrolyser.

The initial demand use case will be a fleet of heavy hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs), expected to be the largest in the world. They will operate between the Sun Metals Zinc Refinery and the Port of Townsville, which is approximately a 30 km round trip. The FCET’s will displace existing diesel prime movers and avoid 1,300 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.

Phase 1 of SunHQ will have a production capacity of 155,000kg p.a., which is in excess of the 91,250kg p.a. required by the five FCETs. Accordingly, there will be additional capacity for Ark Energy to supply green hydrogen to third-party customers and support their transition to a low carbon future.

High-level technical details of SunHQ’s hydrogen production process are as follows:

• Electrolyser type: Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM)
• Electrolyser and CSD supplier: Plug Power
• Electrolyser power rating: 1 MW
• Maximum output: 155,000kg p.a.
• Power supply source: 121 MWac Sun Metals Solar Farm

High-level technical details of the FCETs from Hyzon Motors are as follows:

• Fuel cell power density: TBC
• Hydrogen tank capacity and pressure: 50 kg (10 tanks, 5 kgs per tank) at 350 bar
• Source of the FCET chassis: Freightliner
• Location assembly: Victoria, Australia

SunHQ has received A$8.08M in funding from the Queensland Government under the Hydrogen Industry Development Fund; A$6.1M in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of its Advancing Renewables Program; and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has committed up to A$12.5M to deliver the project. SunHQ is the first hydrogen project to be jointly supported by ARENA and CEFC.