Pure Hydrogen signs MoU with Hyzon for Australian hydrogen refuelling network

Sydney-based Real Energy Corporation’s hydrogen division Pure Hydrogen Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyzon Motors Australia to collaborate on the development of an Australian network of hydrogen refuelling points.

Both subsidiary companies – Pure Hydrogen of Real Energy, and Hyzon Motors Australia of US-based Hyzon Motors – announced on Tuesday the signing of an MoU which will serve as a framework for how the two companies will collaborate to provide hydrogen solutions to end-users, focusing primarily on fleet customers.

The collaboration will seek to develop a network of hydrogen refuelling points across Australia, as well as the potential for a “wet hire” option.

Wet hire differs from dry hire of machinery or equipment in that it includes the hire of an operator, where dry hire only hires the equipment. Pure Hydrogen and Hyzon’s plan for a wet hire arrangement will secure Hyzon’s vehicles as part of a package that also includes the vehicle’s cost, scheduled services, and hydrogen fuel as part of one monthly payment.

“This MoU with such an established and respected hydrogen fuel cell vehicle company like Hyzon is an outstanding development and excellent validation of our plans to develop a hydrogen focused energy business in Australia,” said Scott Brown, Pure Hydrogen managing director.

“We look forward to providing regular updates as the MoU progresses. As well, we have a number of other initiatives underway, which will clearly reflect the value we are building in the Pure Hydrogen business. We believe we can build significant value in our Pure Hydrogen business for our shareholders and look forward to working with Hyzon.”

“We see Australia as a key market for the integration of hydrogen power technology into hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy transportation,” said John Feenan, Hyzon Motors Australia Director.

“This MoU with Pure Hydrogen paves the way for both parties to boost the hydrogen infrastructure capabilities of Australia and propel the nation’s fleet operators towards a zero-emission future.

“We look forward to working with Pure Hydrogen on this shared initiative.”

Hyzon Motors was established in the United States in early 2020 as a new business by parent company Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies and is a global supplier of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles – which includes heavy-duty trucks, buses, and coaches.

The company has also already secured contracts in Australia, such as the August announcement that Hyzon Motors will supply ten hydrogen fuel cell buses to Fortescue Metals for use at the company’s Christmas Creek iron ore mine.

“Fortescue’s mobile fleet represents around 400 to 450 million litres of diesel consumption per year and presents a significant opportunity for hydrogen to be used as a replacement fuel source to accelerate emissions reduction and diversify our energy mix,” Fortescue’s deputy CEO Julie Shuttleworth said, speaking in August.

Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand-based Hiringa Energy announced that it will purchase 1,500 hydrogen fuel cell trucks from Hyzon between 2021 and 2026 to help drive down to “unlocking widespread adoption of zero-emission heavy transport.”

“This is an exciting milestone for Hiringa Energy and our partners,” said Hiringa CTO Dan Kahn, speaking in September. “It comes on the back of over three years of detailed planning and analysis working together with heavy fleet operators, government and leading technology vendors such as Hyzon Motors.