Case Studies
Hydrogen is here.
Read about projects from around the world, and how they’re safely integrating hydrogen technology into the every-day.
Global projects leading the way.
Hydrogen is already used by several industries around the world. From space rockets to garbage trucks and public buses, hydrogen has long been used as one of many sustainable fuel alternatives - and is one that has extreme potential for the North Queensland region.
For Hydrogen-powered cars: the fuel is compressed and stored in toughened tanks as a solid fuel.
Agricultural and chemical industry: hydrogen is needed to produce ammonia (NH3) and is then used to produce fertilisers and part of many household cleaning products.
Food: used to turn unsaturated fats into saturated oils and fats to make hydrogenated vegetable oils such as margarine and butter;
Metalworking: hydrogen is used to enhance metal properties improving strength and corrosion resistance;
Newly commercialized applications of hydrogen, like fuel cells, are opening all kinds of new opportunities in transportation and other energy-related industries. In some applications, hydrogen is used as an alternative combustible fuel.
Ark Energy’s SunHQ project
The country’s first commercial size refuelling station is will open at Ark Energy’s SunHQ Hub at Sun Metals Townsville.
The water purification unit at this locationwill create a stream of purified water, which is to be fed into the electrolyser, and there will also be a reject stream of water with a high concentration of minerals and salts. This reject stream will be transferred to the water treatment ponds on the SMC zinc refinery site to then be re-used in industrial processes within the refinery’s operations. Therefore, the recycled water from the SunHQ site will be used as an offset to town-water consumption for the SMC refinery.
Sustainable aviation fuel plant in Townsville
Jet Zero is on track to construct a first-of-a-kind commercial scale 113 million litre per year Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Renewable Diesel (RD) project in Asia in Townsville, North Queensland.
The project, to be located in the Townsville State Development Area (SDA), will convert bioethanol from domestic agricultural by products into both SAF and renewable diesel.
Mine haulage trucks using hydrogen in Australia
Australian mining giant Fortescue Metals has operated one of its giant haul trucks prototype on hydrogen fuel cells for the first time in May 2024, as it continues trials of hydrogen alternatives in its drive to dump diesel use by the end of the decade.
The truck, dubbed “Europa”, developed in collaboration with Liebherr, contains a 1.6MWh battery (developed in-house by Fortescue WAE) and 500 kilowatts of fuel cells. The prototype can store over 380 kilograms of liquid hydrogen.
Hydrogen homes in Gateshead, England
The Hydrogen Home near Gateshead is setting a powerful example of what the future of low-carbon living could look like. Featuring 100% hydrogen appliances developed through the UK Government’s Hy4Heat program, this innovative project replaces traditional natural gas systems with hydrogen-fueled alternatives. The appliances—ranging from boilers to cookers—are designed to mirror the performance and convenience of natural gas, ensuring that households could make the switch with minimal disruption.
This project goes beyond showcasing cutting-edge technology; it also addresses one of the biggest concerns people have when adopting new energy systems—how these changes might affect daily life. By demonstrating that hydrogen can seamlessly integrate into existing home setups, the Gateshead Hydrogen Home offers a practical glimpse into how we could decarbonize without disrupting household routines or comfort.
SunHydrogen, USA
Green hydrogen presents an opportunity to rethink how we power industries, transportation, and even cities. Traditional hydrogen production often relies on fossil fuels, which negate the environmental benefits hydrogen could offer. SunHydrogen’s method flips that script by using only sunlight and water—a zero-carbon solution. By decentralizing hydrogen production through localized solar-hydrogen panels, they bypass the high costs of building extensive delivery infrastructure.
H2Évora project, Évora, Portugal
The H2Évora project is located in Évora, in the Alentejo region of Portugal. It is made up of around fifteen generators designed to provide an average of 15 tonnes of green hydrogen per year. The system primarily includes concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar panels, a technology rarely used in the world.