BP's hydrogen bus project in Perth, Australia, was a worthy winner of a Banksia Award last week, arguably the most prestigious and important environmental awards in Australia. The Banksia Awards recognise and reward individuals, community groups, businesses and government organisations for leadership and excellence in protecting Australia’s environment.
Hydrogen, in combination with fuel cells, offers hope for a transport energy solution that is clean, efficient and sustainable. In September 2004, 3 hydrogen-powered fuel cell buses, known as Eco-buses, began carrying passengers on Perth bus routes as part of a worldwide trial to test how this technology and required supporting infrastructure could withstand the rigours of operational public transport. Perth is the only city in the Southern Hemisphere chosen to take part in this project.
The project is a collaboration between BP, DaimlerChrysler and the West Australian government. BP provides the hydrogen from the Kwinana refinery based 50km south of Perth, which is produced at the refinery as a by-product of the oil refining process. BP staff also designed and constructed the hydrogen purification facility, producing 99.999% pure hydrogen which is required for efficient fuel cell operation. The hydrogen is then transported by road in specially-designed road tankers to a bus depot in the northern suburbs of Perth.
After some five months of operation:
The buses have travelled 50,000 km and carried 60,000 passengers, including Australian state and federal politicians, and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. The hydrogen supply infrastructure has produced and supplied seven tonnes of hydrogen. The buses have avoided the emission of some 50 tonnes of CO2. Replacing all of Perth’s public transport fleet with hydrogen buses would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of removing more than 14,000 cars off the road. Perth’s EcoBuses are travelling greater distances each day, achieving greater reliability and better fuel economy than in any other city in the worldwide trial. The EcoBus project is the only fuel cell trial in the world examining broad societal implications of a hydrogen economy in addition to industry and technical issues.
The Western Australian Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, the Hon Alannah MacTiernan, issued a Media Statement which can be found at the link below:
