Loop Energy to supply fuel cells for Australian generators

Hydrogen fuel cell solutions provider Loop Energy and Australian generator manufacturer MYNT First Element have announced a strategic partnership for the manufacture of hydrogen electric power generators. Under the agreement, Loop Energy hydrogen fuel cell modules will be integrated into MYNT’s Purple H2 generators, which are designed as a clean energy alternative to diesel in base load applications for mining, industrial and construction.

The recently launched MYNT Purple H2 generators will incorporate Loop Energy fuel cell modules. (Photo: Loop Energy)

The Purple H2 product line was introduced in the first quarter of 2023, with plans for three trials in Queensland and New South Wales in the second half of the year. With the first units already in production, MYNT said it expects customer demand in Australia to significantly increase over the next two years.

MYNT chose to partner with Loop Energy largely due to its fuel cell modules’ advanced eFlow technology, which incorporates a trapezoid plate that the company said ensures uniform current and power density across the entire active area, increasing gas velocity down the plate to deliver enhanced performance and water management and improvements in durability, power and efficiency. The result is up to a 16% fuel efficiency advantage, 90% more peak power and up to a 10 times improvement in current density uniformity over comparable products currently available, Loop Energy stated.

Such attributes will enable MYNT Purple H2 generators to provide customers with the total cost of ownership and reliability benefits typically required in mission-critical applications, Loop Energy said.

Gary Radford, managing director, MYNT First Element, noted his company has been in the business of “off-grid fuel-optimized and carbon-reduced power generation” for more than 20 years, and recognizes that for hydrogen-powered generators to be a practically viable replacement for diesel generators, a service life in excess of 20,000 hours will be required.

“For the last three years, we have sought out a hydrogen fuel cell partner with the technical capability, scale and vision to work with us in product development to deliver a genuine, emission-free alternative to diesel generators in base load applications,” he said. “Loop Energy’s team culture and proprietary technology has added such significant value on both our supply chain capability and ability to deliver genuine best value customer outcomes in the hydrogen space… that we actively pursued a supply arrangement with Loop Energy as the preferred powertrain for our Purple H2 hydrogen power generator range.”

As a part of the agreement, Loop Energy has appointed MYNT as an exclusive distribution partner for the Australian market.

“MYNT’s system level knowledge and integration expertise is second to none. We are very excited to extend their knowledge and experience to other Australian OEMs as they gear up to launch hydrogen electric products,” said George Rubin, Loop Energy’s chief commercial officer. “We all know how critical the time-to-market is. Together with our partners at MYNT, we can help customers develop and implement hydrogen solutions faster and with lower cost.”