Approval received for Port of Brisbane hydrogen hub

Lion Energy (ASX: LIO) has obtained approval from the Queensland State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) for its Port of Brisbane hydrogen hub.

This facility will be able to generate and dispense green hydrogen and load compressed hydrogen onto tube trailers for transport to other sites and depots.

The hydrogen hub is geared towards heavy mobility fleets with an early focus on supplying hydrogen to domestic public bus fleets, truck fleets and fuel cell gensets for the mining and construction industries.

This approval represents a key milestone for the project which can now proceed to the construction phase and Lion expects construction to begin in Q2 2024 with commissioning of the facility by H2 2024.

Key equipment has been obtained, including two electrolysers, compressors and a dispensing package. Lion intends to use readily available renewable electricity through the acquisition of large-scale generation certificates or source electricity directly from existing renewable energy suppliers.

Lion is also working with the Port of Brisbane to investigate the potential investment into solar energy.

Lion Energy executive chairman Tom Soulsby commented on the approval.

“The approval represents the first of its kind for an integrated green hydrogen generation and distribution facility in Brisbane, and, arguably, the first of its kind in a major capital city in Australia,” he said.

“The location at Port of Brisbane is highly strategic due to its proximity to the majority of Brisbane’s 70+ bus depots and also the significant heavy vehicle traffic to and from the port.

“Our site will initially produce and dispense some 420kg of green hydrogen per day, but with the ability to quickly double production to respond to increasing demand.”