Hiringa Energy undertaking hydrogen refuelling trial
The first of three New Zealand hydrogen refuelling stations for trucking operations and warehousing should be ready within 18 months.
That’s according to Hiringa Energy chief executive Andrew Clennett who says it’s screening 20 potential trial sites, expected to include a forklift operation and nearby truck stop. One of the sites will be in Taranaki where Hiringa is based, BusinessDesk reports.
The initial three sites – including fuel supply – could cost about $30 million, Clennett says.
Later sites are likely to start for about $4m and eventually less than $2m.
Costs are falling as manufacturing volume builds, Clennett says. But lead times for equipment delivery are increasing due to growing global demand for hydrogen-related equipment.
“So the sooner we make a decision the better,” he told BusinessDesk.
The refuelling and distribution project is among 11 underway or expected to start within the next year, drawing on a ‘green’ product made using renewable energy and a ‘grey’ net-zero carbon product sourced by cleaning up flue emissions from a major industrial site.
It was listed in an H2 Taranaki Roadmap released by Hiringa, New Plymouth District Council and Venture Taranaki.
The 68-page document shows where hydrogen technologies and usage are at globally and how Taranaki could use its energy and petrochemical expertise to start developing local capability in hydrogen-powered transport and industry in partnership with local firms.
The Provincial Growth Fund contributed $50,000 toward the roadmap’s $190,000 cost and also provided Hiringa $950,000 to develop hydrogen infrastructure in the region.
Hiringa is working with Ballance Agri-Nutrients to evaluate the potential to use renewable energy to make hydrogen and ‘green’ ammonia at that firm’s Kapuni plant.
Other projects envisage trials of hydrogen blends in gas pipelines and involvement by the region’s district councils in hydrogen car-sharing, public transport trials and the use of hydrogen fuel cells to power activities at remote locations.
Clennett says the issue is how to commercialise hydrogen in New Zealand and to test technologies and business models for the least cost.
“We really don’t want to be spending money just on demonstrations. You need to make sure that projects we are doing have got tangible outcomes.”
Various companies are investigating the potential use of hydrogen, either as a zero-carbon supplement to natural gas supplies, trucking fuel or longer-term as an export.
Refining NZ is considering the potential of a hydrogen hub around Northport, and Ports of Auckland intends testing hydrogen’s suitability for its straddle carriers and tugs. Pouakai NZ last year sought a loan of up to $20 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to test the feasibility of a combined power, hydrogen and fertiliser plant in Taranaki.
Clennett says hydrogen costs are falling rapidly and it is important firms and policymakers keep their minds open to the best available options long-term.
He cites the cost of fuel cell electric (FCEV) buses, which have fallen sharply. They are now comparable with battery-electric vehicles and don’t face the same range, weight and passenger count restrictions.
Clennett says New Zealand is going to need a “suite” of renewable solutions to meet its climate change targets, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hydrogen, wind, solar and geothermal.
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Hi
Will and if so when will Hydrogen be available for the public to use in Hydrogen powered personal vehicles? Will these vehicles be able to tow a trailer/2000kg boat and be initially fueled at truck fueling centres, which I imagine be an interim arrangement. Is the generation of hydrogen sustainable for widespread use. Clearly the environmental damage from using hydrogen is not an issue, however what about in its production?
Presumably the greater the use re costs for fuel manufacture and reticulation the more affordable for the public to be on board. Won’t battery technology and resources currently used demand this so there must be alternatives yet to inform the public or is it more hope than a likelihood ?
Thank you for any information.
Direct Electric (plug-in) is more likely to be used for Light vehicles (personal use) due to our high renewable power generation mix. Hydrogen is better suited for long distance and heavy trucks where it’s higher energy density means its more practical. “Green” hydrogen is made from 100% renewable electricity via electrolysis. The use of hydrogen is more likely to be relevant to business and industry than the general consumer because otherwise renewable generation capacity would need to be significantly more than if EVs only are used.