Nel PEM electrolyzer to fuel Australian fleets

The Nel MC500 containerized PEM water electrolyzer has a production capacity up to 1063 kg/day. (Photo: Nel Hydrogen)

Nel Hydrogen US, a subsidiary of Nel ASA, has received a purchase order from Viva Energy Australia Pty. Ltd. for a 2.5 MW MC500 containerized PEM water electrolyzer. Once installed at Viva Energy’s Geelong Energy Hub, the electrolyzer will be the largest in the country and provide green hydrogen to a fleet of heavy fuel cell vehicles.

Viva Energy owns the Geelong refinery, which currently supplies around 50% of the state of Victoria’s fuel needs, as well as supplies a service station network of roughly 1350 Shell and Liberty service stations across Australia. It also supplies fuels and other products to commercial customers.

As part of its Geelong Energy Hub, the company is building a new energy service station near the refinery that will provide battery charging and hydrogen refueling. The Nel containerized PEM water electrolyzer has a production capacity up to 1063 kg/day and will supply fuel cell grade hydrogen directly on site to the dedicated fueling station. The contract is valued at approximately EUR 4M ($4.01 million USD), and the system is expected to be delivered in Q3 2023.

According to Viva Energy, the broader Energy Hub vision includes a gas terminal and potentially a solar energy farm, projects to support alternative energies such as renewables and hydrogen and the development of strategic storage to improve fuel supply security.