'Hydrogen Highway' to link eastern states
Australia’s first renewable hydrogen refueling network will be built along the nation’s busiest freight route, following collaboration between Victoria, NSW and QueenslandIn a press statement released today (March 25), the Andrews Government said it will invest $10 million to build at least four renewable hydrogen refuelling stations between Sydney and Melbourne, in an historic step towards decarbonising the trucking industry and meeting Victoria’s target to halve emissions by 2030. The funding will be matched by the NSW Government.
The $20 million of total funding will build the network and provide grants for Australia’s first long-haul hydrogen fuel-cell electric freight trucks.
Just how far this funding will go remains to be seen, but as we reported earlier this month, the Viva Energy hydrogen refueling station in Geelong is projected to cost $51.4m to develop, build and operate its one station.
It is hoped that the Viva Energy station will be up and running by the end of 2023.
Multiple highways
The Victorian, NSW and Queensland Governments will collaborate on the development of the renewable hydrogen highway by 2026, focusing on the Hume Highway, the Pacific Highway and the Newell.
Transport is one of Australia’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 25 per cent of Victoria’s total carbon footprint. Renewable hydrogen shows strong potential to be cost competitive with diesel – which currently powers most of Victoria’s freight industry.
The highway program is expected to unlock new markets and create new jobs, driving investment through regional and metropolitan areas along Australia’s eastern seaboard.
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Victoria’s Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said in the press statement announcing the hydrogen highway: “The renewable hydrogen highway will create new jobs, drive investment across the east coast and is a landmark step towards meeting Victoria’s target to reach net-zero by 2050.”
“While the Commonwealth Government is failing to address climate change, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are building pathways to a zero-emissions transport sector,” she added.
NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean, commented: “Renewable hydrogen will increasingly become a competitive zero emissions fuel option for our heavy transport sector, giving our trucking industry the opportunity to decarbonise their fleets.
“The governments of NSW, Victoria and Queensland are signing Memorandums of Understanding for the refuelling corridors, starting with the Hume Highway, the Pacific Highway and the Newell Highway.”
All we need now is some hydrogen fuel-cell trucks on the market…
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