Sydney Water and construction partner John Holland are conducting a 28 day trial of the GEH2 to power the construction of the $1.2B Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) at Kemps Creek.

“The adoption of hydrogen technology positions Sydney Water at the forefront of innovation in the industry,” says Gill Fowler, Sydney Water Environment & Sustainability Manager, Major Projects.

The trial aligns with Sydney Water’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions in its operations by 2030, and in its supply chain by 2040.

By moving towards low emission power solutions like the GEH2, Sydney Water is “attracting future partnerships and investment opportunities that align with our clean energy goals,” Fowler says.

The GEH2 Hydrogen Generator is designed to replace diesel generators on large-scale construction projects, powering cranes and on-site facilities in the case of Upper South Creek. It combines a Toyota fuel cell and lithium-ion battery to supply power without greenhouse gases, pollutants or noise. The only by-product is water and heat, making it a great solution for companies like Sydney Water looking to reduce their on-site emissions.

John Holland General Manager, Steve Tolley notes that trialling hydrogen generators like the GEH2 is a step in the right direction for the construction industry.

“This revolutionary trial puts us at the cutting edge of innovation and sustainability as we build one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most advanced water recycling facilities,” he says.

Producing 100kVA of clean, quiet power, the GEH2 provides sufficient energy to power heavy construction equipment. The generator also runs without emitting any noise, making it advantageous for projects in noise-sensitive urban environments or residential areas.

Opting for clean power solutions like the GEH2 on projects like Upper South Creek is equivalent to taking 50 cars off Australian roads every year.

If the trial is successful, Sydney Water will investigate transitioning to hydrogen power on their upcoming large-scale construction projects. Steve Tolley notes that this would be the first step to reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

“Hydrogen technology is a gamechanger – with its incredible potential to reduce emissions and noise pollution while reducing our industry’s carbon footprint,” he says.

The only limitation of hydrogen as a fuel source - it's currently 15x more expensive than a diesel generator equivalent. Tolley notes that as the hydrogen economy is still in its infancy, it will take some time for running costs come down. 

"We know whenever we re-introduce new technology into what we do, we find the more we use it, the better we get at it, the cheaper it costs," he says.

Blue Diamond is the exclusive national distributor for the EODev GEH2 Hydrogen Generator.

For more information on how your company can integrate cleaner power solutions like the GEH2 Hydrogen Generator into your energy mix, reach out to one of our renewable experts today.