bp debuts Australia’s first hydrogen refueler in Brisbane

In a pioneering move for Australian retail fuel sites, Brisbane’s bp Lytton service station now offers hydrogen refueling for fuel cell-powered vehicles. This initiative is a collaboration between bp, BOC (the project lead), the Queensland Government, and ARENA.

The refueling station sources its hydrogen from BOC’s Bulwer Island production facility. It boasts the capability to refuel a hydrogen vehicle within three to five minutes. However, to access this refueling service, hydrogen vehicle drivers need to register via their bp Plus card.

Frédéric Baudry, bp Australia’s president and SVP of fuels & low carbon solutions for the Asia Pacific, commented on the development. He emphasised bp’s global commitment to catering to the energy and mobility needs of customers and partners. “By safely integrating a hydrogen refueling station into our service station network, we’re illustrating that current infrastructure can accommodate hydrogen passenger vehicles,” Baudry said. He further highlighted bp’s belief in hydrogen’s significant role in achieving net zero, especially in sectors like heavy transport that are challenging to decarbonise.

Amanda Woollard, bp’s vice president of marketing for the Asia Pacific, echoed Baudry’s sentiments. She stressed the importance of collaborations like the one with BOC and the Queensland Government in supporting the rise of hydrogen-powered vehicles on the roads. “bp envisions hydrogen vehicles, along with EVs and biofuels for current ICE vehicles, as offering diverse mobility solutions for consumers,” Woollard said.

The Queensland Government’s fleet, which includes hydrogen-powered Hyundai NEXOs, was the first to utilise the new refueling facility. Mick de Brenni, Minister for Energy, Renewables, and Hydrogen, expressed his enthusiasm for Queensland’s burgeoning renewable hydrogen sector. He emphasised the critical role of transport decarbonisation in achieving the 2050 net-zero emissions goal. “It’s heartening to see Queensland leading the way in establishing the East Coast Renewable Hydrogen Superhighway,” de Brenni said.

Binod Patwari, BOC South Pacific’s managing director, highlighted the significance of integrating a hydrogen refueling station within an existing service station. He believes the insights gained from this integration will be instrumental in expanding hydrogen refueling infrastructure across Australia, especially for heavy transport on major freight routes.