Boundary Power, with financial backing from the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA) Victoria, has unveiled a groundbreaking relocatable hydrogen-integrated stand-alone power system (HiSAPS).
Victoria’s Minister for Climate Action, Energy, and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, witnessed the demonstration unit in action at the Ampcontrol manufacturing site in Ringwood on October 9, 2023. The system effectively powered the internal lighting of the LED manufacturing facility, showcasing its capabilities.
Stand-alone power systems are typically designed to generate electricity using solar PV and batteries, with a backup diesel generator for periods of poor weather. However, to align with net-zero emission goals, there’s a growing need for non-carbon-emitting backup power sources, such as green hydrogen.
Boundary Power secured funding from the Victorian Government in January 2022 under the Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan. This grant allowed them to collaborate with partners like Horizon Power, Ampcontrol, and LAVO to develop a 100 percent renewable demonstration HiSAPS plant. It harnesses solar power and a renewable hydrogen hybrid battery for electricity storage and generation.
The design of this unit incorporates Boundary Power’s award-winning Solar Qube®, an all-in-one, relocatable stand-alone power system. Selectronic battery inverters, designed and manufactured in Australia, were integrated into the Solar Qube’s electrical design by Ampcontrol engineers.
In a significant departure from traditional setups, the innovative design eliminates the need for an onboard diesel generator and instead incorporates a self-contained hydrogen power system developed by LAVO. This LAVO unit, originally prototyped and tested in New South Wales, is now being trialled across Australia.
This project provides valuable insights into the advanced technology required for building hydrogen systems capable of storing and supplying electricity. The unique demonstration plant serves as a testbed for evaluating the technical, regulatory, and safety aspects of integrating hydrogen systems into stand-alone power systems.
Simon Duggan, General Manager of Boundary Power, expressed gratitude for the support and funding received from the Victorian Government and DEECA. He emphasized the company’s commitment to leading the energy transition through innovations in stand-alone power system design and technology.
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 commercialization of HiSAPS.” This breakthrough in hydrogen-integrated power systems represents a significant step toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future.