After significant delays thanks largely to COVID-19-related supply chain issues, Australia’s first renewable hydrogen microgrid was commissioned earlier this year. On Monday, the Western Australian (WA) government and Horizon Power released a report outlining their learnings to date, including details on the integration of hydrogen and microgrid technologies, costs, regulatory requirements and community sentiment around hydrogen.

Acting Energy Minister Tony Buti declared that the Public Commissioning Knowledge Sharing Report “confirms the great opportunity for hydrogen to play a role in our state’s energy transition.”

Located in Denham, WA, about 500 miles north of Perth, the Denham Renewable Hydrogen Microgrid integrates hydrogen components into an existing off-grid hybrid microgrid that had relied on diesel, wind, a 704-kW solar farm and a battery energy storage system.

The system now includes a 348-kW hydrogen electrolyzer and a 100-kW fuel cell. The system will pass city drinking water through a reverse osmosis system prior to its use by the electrolyzer. The system’s daily consumption of water will be no more than that of four typical households, according to Horizon Power. 

It is expected that the hydrogen microgrid will offset nearly 37,000 gallons (140,000 liters) of diesel fuel each year and produce enough energy to power roughly 20% of Denham’s residences and businesses. Denham has about 800 permanent residents.

«This innovative project helps to reduce our reliance on diesel in remote areas, delivering cleaner, affordable and reliable power for Denham,” said Roger Cook, Western Australia’s premier.