Emerson and Toyota Collaborate on Australian Hydrogen Facility

Missouri-based Emerson, a leader in the global software and technology market, and Toyota Australia have joined hands to mold part of Toyota Australia’s operations into commercial-grade hydrogen production, storage, and refueling plant. 

The project receives support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). It takes cues from Emerson’s automation expertise to provide the control system that helps Toyota Australia demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of manufacturing hydrogen fuels, including the use of renewable solar energy.

Sustainable hydrogen projects present a challenge due to the fact that they require the integration of many data sources into a singular balance-of-plant system, a critical process for a facility’s growth.

For the Toyota Australia Hydrogen Center, Emerson’s advanced DeltaV distributed control system gathers data from the plant’s complex equipment, making it easy to monitor the production and storage of hydrogen gas and document and validate the sustainability of operations.

Emerson’s DeltaV systems control operations for optimal production efficiencies and help ensure safe operations.

Edge control technology from Emerson’s PACSystems™ will further minimize the upkeep and complexity of integrating third-party systems. Rosemount flame detectors will help ensure the safety of personnel and operations.

“By incorporating a digital automation foundation to eliminate data silos, Toyota Australia can not only significantly reduce costs but also gain greater visibility into system performance, making it easier to maintain and report sustainability performance and increase productivity,” said Mark Bulanda, Executive President of Automation Solutions, Emerson. “The data foundation Toyota has built will make it faster and easier for like-minded companies to replicate success as hydrogen refueling networks continue to expand across the continent and the globe.”