Tag Archives: Matthew Callachor

Thiess to use EODev GEH2 hydrogen fuel cell generator at New South Wales mine site

Environmental, Mining services, Power supply for mines, , , , , ,

Toyota Australia has announced Thiess is set to 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 110 kVA GEH2 power generator has been designed by EODev (Energy Observer Developments), a France-based company specialised in hydrogen solutions, with the support of Toyota Motor Europe, and uses the same Toyota Fuel Cell System that powers the Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle.

In October 2023, Toyota Australia announced it was partnering with EODev to assemble the generators at Altona and make them available through its local retail partner Blue Diamond Machinery. It will also export units to New Zealand with Toyota New Zealand acting as the distributor in that market.

Speaking at the ceremony, 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,” he said. “For Toyota, it’s part of our multi-pathway approach to decarbonisation by providing 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 is set to become our first customer for this innovative hydrogen fuel cell generator.

He added: “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.”

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 to reduce carbon emissions from our operations, and we are determined to make a meaningful contribution towards decarbonising the world’s resources sector,” Liyanage said.

“We’re pleased at the prospect of being the first customer to take the locally-assembled hydrogen fuel cell generator unit and are excited to be partnering with Toyota once again, this time on cutting-edge technology that has the power to shape a more sustainable future for the world.”

Toyota has invested A$3.27 million ($2.12 million) 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 customers largely in the mining, construction and events sectors.

The GEH2 power 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.

Toyota Australia and BHP strengthen decarbonisation partnership

Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

Toyota Australia and BHP have strengthened their relationship, aimed at enhancing safety and decarbonisation measures within BHP’s Australian operations. This collaboration, solidified today through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), represents a significant milestone in the ongoing relationship between the two industry-leading brands.

Back in 2021, Toyota Australia announced a local electric-vehicle pilot trial with BHP, with the small-scale trial involving a LandCruiser 70 Series single-cab ute that had been converted to a battery-electric vehicle by Toyota Australia’s Product Planning and Development division in Port Melbourne.

A primary objective of this latest collaboration between the two companies is to work together across safety, engineering and product development teams focused on safety in light vehicles design and future state technologies and challenges.

Furthermore, the collaboration is designed to support BHP with its objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. By leveraging the combined expertise of Toyota and BHP, both companies are committed to BHP achieving this important target, BHP says.

This initiative showcases both brands’ commitment to embracing solutions for lowering vehicle operation emissions.

President and CEO of Toyota Australia, Matthew Callachor, said: “BHP is a key player in Australia’s export industry, and Toyota Australia is delighted to announce this collaboration which is designed to enhance safety measures at BHP’s Australian work sites and reduce vehicle operation and other CO2 emissions on BHP sites.”

Through this MoU, BHP will gain access to the knowledge and resources of Toyota’s expert engineering teams across Australia and globally and aims to support BHP in realising its broader decarbonisation goals.

The two companies will also collaborate on a decarbonisation journey map that will look at a range of options and alternative technologies to develop a comprehensive strategy that aims to achieve agreed targets, according to BHP.

BHP President Australia, Geraldine Slattery, said: “At the heart of our efforts to decarbonise our operations is an ambition to electrify our fleet of 5,000 light vehicles in Australia. Collaborating with leading suppliers like Toyota shows our clear commitment to developing shared solutions for a safer and more sustainable future.”

BHP Group Procurement Officer, James Agar, added: “Combining our engineering expertise and resources with Toyota is a terrific example of the approach we are taking with major suppliers to develop new technologies that will improve our safety and sustainability. It’s an exciting project and there’s plenty of work to do, but we’re up for the challenge and we look forward to seeing what we can do together.”

Once completed, the capabilities developed through the partnership are expected to provide a blue-print for other organisations seeking to safely electrify their light-vehicle fleets and contribute to decarbonisation, BHP says.