With funding from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Victoria, Boundary Power has developed a relocatable, hydrogen integrated stand-alone power system (HiSAPS).
On 9 October 2023, the Victorian Minister for Climate Action, Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, visited the Ampcontrol manufacturing site in Ringwood to see the demonstration unit in action, powering the internal lighting of the LED manufacturing facility.
Stand-alone power systems are designed to generate electricity through solar PV and batteries, using a back-up diesel generator during poor weather conditions. As part of the drive towards net zero, non-carbon emitting forms of back-up power, such as green hydrogen, are needed.
In January 2022, Boundary Power received funding from the Victorian Government under the Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan.
In collaboration with its joint venture partners, Horizon Power, integrated electrical solutions provider, Ampcontrol and manufacturer of long duration energy storage systems, LAVO, the grant enabled Boundary Power to deliver a 100 per cent renewable, demonstration HiSAPS plant that uses solar power and a renewable hydrogen hybrid battery to store and generate electricity when required.
The unit design utilises Boundary Power’s award-winning Solar Qube® product, a relocatable, all-in-one, standalone power system. Ampcontrol design engineers collaborated with Selectronic for the Solar Qube electrical design to develop advanced features using the Australian designed and manufactured Selectronic battery inverter.
The innovative design solution replaces the onboard diesel generator with a self-contained hydrogen power system, developed by LAVO. The LAVO unit is a prototype system developed and tested in New South Wales and deployed by LAVO for trial across Australia.
The project has offered an insight into the cutting-edge technology required to build hydrogen systems to store and provide electricity.
The one-of-a-kind demonstration plant will provide crucial insight into the technical, regulatory and safety aspects of integrating hydrogen systems into a stand-alone power system.
Boundary Power General Manager, Simon Duggan, said that Boundary Power’s vision is to lead the energy transition with advancements in stand-alone power system design and technology.
“We are extremely thankful to the Victorian Government and the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action for its support and funding, allowing us to develop the first hydrogen-integrated unit here in Victoria,” Mr Duggan said.
“The funding allowed us to collaborate with experts in the field to design an innovative solution to demonstrate real-world application, paving the way for future commercialisation of HiSAPS.”
Featured image: Ms Ambrosio (centre) and Mr Duggan (left) at the launch of Boundary Power’s HiSAPS. Image credit: Boundary Power.