A 10 kW renewable hydrogen generator will provide backup power for a telecommunications tower in Victoria.

The device - part of a joint project by Telstra and hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer Energys Australia - holds enough renewable hydrogen to operate for at least 72 hours, ensuring continuous service during power disruptions. 

The initiative is intended to address the vulnerability of phone networks to extreme weather events, which have previously caused service interruptions in remote areas.

Energys Australia is also developing a renewable hydrogen production facility in Melbourne, supported by a grant from the Commercialisation Pathways Fund. 

This facility features a 1 MW electrolyzer to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, targeting applications in transportation and as a diesel alternative.

The Victorian project will see additional hydrogen fuel cells installed at telecom towers in Coldstream, Kinglake, Christmas Hills, and Chum Creek - areas that have experienced frequent outages due to severe weather.

Energys says it is focusing on replacing the diesel generators that are currently used for telecom backups with zero-emission hydrogen alternatives. 

New York-headquartered Plug Power, a partner in the Energys Renewable Hydrogen Production Facility, is also involved in other Australian projects, including a 3 GW electrolyzer project in the Northern Territory and supplying 5 MW PEM electrolyzer systems for green hydrogen projects in Tasmania.

The renewable energy required for the hydrogen production facility will be sourced from the grid during low demand periods, contributing to cost reduction and grid stability, according to a review by the CSIRO.