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Denham Hydrogen Demonstration Plant

We're working towards carbon-zero towns by incorporating renewable hydrogen energy into Denham's microgrid.

Overview

We've commissioned a new state-of-the-art hydrogen demonstration plant and dedicated solar farm in the regional seaside town of Denham, Western Australia.

Traditionally, remote communities are powered by diesel-generated microgrids. The hybrid solar and hydrogen power system will test the technical capability of hydrogen as a baseload power source in remote microgrids, in anticipation of the technology becoming cost competitive in the future.

Because hydrogen is a clean source of energy, the development of hydrogen energy systems has become the focus of global research efforts. Horizon Power’s investment in this important field is driven by our determination to meet our customers’ future energy needs in a responsible and sustainable way.

Our research in Denham will benefit all regional communities as we explore the possibility of implementing microgrids and hydrogen technology into other regional power systems across the state and find the most effective way to move towards 100% renewable energy systems.

Read our findings report

How does the demonstration plant work?

Hydrogen is a low density gas which produces clean electricity and emits only water. This makes it a green energy source and that’s why we’re interested in developing a way to harness its capability as a cost-effective, dispatchable power source. This is where our hydrogen demonstration plant comes in.

The process starts with the electrolysis of water, where electricity from the solar farm is used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen gas. The hydrogen that is produced is then pressurised and stored. To create electricity, the hydrogen gas is passed through a fuel cell and combined with oxygen.

The reaction between the two gases produces electricity (which is supplied to the grid) and water vapour. The water vapour is reused at a rate of approximately 50% and the balance evaporates into the atmosphere.

What's happening now?

We’ve successfully integrated the hydrogen plant with the solar farm, battery and power station, completing operational handover and reliability testing in early 2024. So far, we’ve produced more than 4,000 kg of hydrogen, generated 40 MWh of electricity from hydrogen and 1,800 MWh from the solar farm.

Over the next 12 months, we’re monitoring the performance of the plant and identifying operation and maintenance improvements. Along the way, we’re sharing the learnings and knowledge we’ve gained with our peers in the energy industry.

The project involved an estimated 31,000 labour-hours across over 50 job positions - upskilling Horizon Power employees and contractors for the future hydrogen market.

The Denham Hydrogen Demonstration Plant represents a critical step towards cleaner energy generation, paving the way for future hydrogen projects in our remote microgrids and helping to advance hydrogen development across Australia.

Real time energy dashboard

You're seeing in real time the energy being produced at our Denham Hydrogen Demonstration Plant. It is based on contributions from renewable energy sources and the enabling technologies that improve system security and reliability - like energy storage.

The system uses energy produced from our solar farm to power an electrolyser that will produce hydrogen, which can be stored for later use in the fuel cell to deliver electricity. 

What did we learn?

We've detailed our learnings from the project in the reports below. Visit the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) website for more information. 


Frequently asked questions

  • Why did we choose Denham?
  • The system
  • Operations
  • How does it affect me?

National support

This green hydrogen project has been made possible thanks to funding received from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Advancing Renewables Program and the WA Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Fund.

Visit the ARENA project page.

Disclaimer
The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government or the Government of Western Australia nor do the Australian Government or the Government of Western Australia expressly or impliedly endorse any views or information contained herein, and the Australian Government and the Government of Western Australia do not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.

Project milestone Date
Operational handover Early 2024
Fully commissioned April 2023
Producing hydrogen Late 2022
Demonstration farm construction commences October 2021
Solar farm construction commences May 2021
Contract awarded to Hybrid Systems Australia December 2020
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Did you know?

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe

It is lighter than air, colourless, odourless and non-toxic.

Hydrogen can be safely produced from water using a process called electrolysis, and is a clean carbon-free fuel, which only produces water when used to generate electricity.

The process to convert water to electricity uses an average of 1,370 litres per day

This is just above the average daily household consumption of water in Western Australia.

Water will also be utilised for cooling the hydrogen equipment, but the overall daily consumption of water will not exceed the average consumption of four households.

Clean energy powering 100 homes per year

The demonstration plant will utilise solar and renewable hydrogen generation and storage to provide 526 megawatt hours (MWh) of dispatchable renewable electricity per year.

That's the equivalent energy used to power 100 homes!

Leading WA towards net zero

By exploring innovative energy solutions in some of the toughest environments on earth.

Learn more

Horizon Power acknowledges the Traditional Custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images, names or voices of deceased people.