Toyota to deliver its first locally-assembled hydrogen generator to mining services provider Thiess

Toyota Australia has announced Thiess, one of the world’s largest mining services companies, will be the first customer to take delivery of its locally-assembled EODev GEH2 hydrogen fuel cell stationary power generator.

Toyota Australia President and CEO Matthew Callachor made the announcement at a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the first GEH2 generator assembled at
the company’s site at Altona in Victoria.

The 110kVA GEH2 generator was developed by EODev (Energy Observer Developments) and Toyota Motor Europe and uses the same Toyota Fuel Cell System that powers the Mirai FCEV.

In October 2023, Toyota Australia announced it was partnering with EODev to assemble the generators at Altona and through its local retail partner Blue Diamond Machinery (BDM), and Toyota New Zealand, distribute and sell them in Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Callachor said he was proud to see the completion of the first unit assembled at Altona and welcomed Thiess as the first customer.

“This is a great day for us at Toyota and all of our like-minded partners that have brought this important project to fruition as we aim to help drive towards a more sustainable future,” Mr Callachor said.

“For Toyota, it’s part of our multi-pathway approach to decarbonisation by providing all our Australian customers with a range of technologies and mobility solutions,
including power generation, that help reduce carbon emissions.

“We are firmly committed to growing, and investing in, the hydrogen economy here in Australia and I’m particularly pleased that Thiess will become our first customer for this innovative hydrogen fuel cell generator.

“Toyota has long-standing shared history with Thiess that started when Sir Leslie Thiess imported the very first LandCruisers into Australia to work on the Snowy Hydro Scheme in 1958.

“Thiess then gained the Queensland and other state distribution rights from our parent company in Japan and was instrumental in building our brand here, particularly in rural and regional Australia.

“Now, we are working together again in a new era as we collectively aim to build a better future for all Australians,” he said.

Thiess Group Executive - Assets, Autonomy & Digital, Ramesh Liyanage said Thiess is planning to use the generator in its mining operations in New South Wales and was looking to add a second unit in the future as part of its own decarbonisation program.

“This year, as Thiess celebrates 90 years of operations – we are well-progressed in our journey of reducing carbon emissions from our operations, and are determined to make a meaningful contribution towards decarbonising the world's resources sector,” Mr Liyanage said.

“We’re pleased with the prospect of being the first customer to take the locally assembled hydrogen fuel cell generator unit and are excited to be reigniting the long standing partnership between Thiess and Toyota, this time on cutting-edge technology that has the power to shape a more sustainable future for the world,” he
said.

Toyota has invested $3.27m in its facility at Altona to assemble up to 100 GEH2 generators over the next three years and aims to produce 28 in 2024 for sale largely in the mining, construction and events sectors.

The GEH2 generator can also be used to provide emergency backup power for hospitals, commercial buildings and anywhere where stable power supply is required.

The GEH2 generator has been in production since 2021 at EODev’s manufacturing facility in France and is currently sold across several European markets, in North America, in the Middle East, and in Australia.