Telstra becomes early adopter of hydrogen energy

As part of a co-funded pilot project with the Victorian Government, Telstra will install backup hydrogen generators at five sites in outer-regional Victoria, which has a history of storm-related power blackouts.

Australian ‘green hydrogen’ company Energys has presented the first of five Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generators manufactured for Telstra as part of this alternative energy backup project.

The generators are designed as a drop-in replacement for traditional diesel electric generators, which will gradually be phased out as the world strives to meet emissions targets.

While hydrogen fuel cells have been used in niche applications since the mid-20th century, the abundance of fossil fuels has limited their wider commercial adoption. With rising fuel prices and the need to cut emissions, many forward-thinking companies are working to include hydrogen in their future energy roadmap.

Energys’s fuel cell generator delivers 10 kilowatts of AC power using hydrogen gas as a fuel source. The hydrogen is passed through the fuel cell, which undergoes an electrochemical reaction, producing electricity. The only by-product of this reaction is pure water vapour, which can be released harmlessly into the environment.

Designed and manufactured in Victoria, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generator is the result of seven years of research and development. It has been designed specifically for large-scale manufacture using Energys’s proprietary engine design.

“We’re supporting the state’s emerging renewable hydrogen sector to play a key part in our transition to 95% renewable energy by 2035,” said Minister for Climate Action and Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio MP, who attended the unveiling of the first Energys fuel cell generator.

“This innovative project uses renewable energy to keep the power running during an emergency, helping to maintain vital telecommunications, which is critical as we encounter more frequent extreme weather events,” D’Ambrosio said.

Image caption: Lily D’Ambrosio MP (centre) attends the unveiling of the first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generator designed by Energys for Telstra. Image: Supplied.