Hydrogen association formed

The New Zealand Hydrogen Association has been established to help advance hydrogen energy as a low emission fuel source.

The association has been formed with significant input and funding from a number of private sector companies, as well as seed funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), association chairman Michael Fulton says.

He says it grew out of a private sector consortium of companies progressing the use of hydrogen as a low emission fuel source.

The association aims to support the use of New Zealand’s renewable energy resources to decarbonise domestic energy needs and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.

MBIE sees the hydrogen economy as not only reducing carbon emissions but also developing the potential for a key export industry, its principal policy advisor Mark Pickup says.

“We encourage other parties working in the hydrogen space to join and support the association. We see this as an important development in the Government’s plans for a zero carbon and sustainable future.”

Association founding member Real Journeys chief executive Richard Lauder says his company’s specially designed fleet of bullet coaches travel 1.3 million kilometres each year between Queenstown and Milford Sound. “The prospect of low emission hydrogen fuel cell coaches running this route would put Real Journeys at the forefront of tourism globally,” he says.

HW Richardson Group chief executive Brent Esler says the association’s formation is an important step forward for industry.

The group is one of New Zealand’s leading transport companies, employing more than 2500 people and operating a fleet of more than 1000 vehicles in heavy transport, including businesses involved in fuel distribution and ready-mix concrete.

“We believe hydrogen will become a critical part of our energy mix in the future and are pleased to be a founding member,” Esler says.

Contact Energy is also a founding member, and its commercial and new ventures head Todd Spencer says there’s strong potential for developing renewable hydrogen exports using low carbon, locally produced electricity.

Dr Linda Wright is the association’s chief executive, described by Fulton as a driving force behind its formation as well as previously forming the New Zealand Hydrogen Energy Consortium.

Membership is open to all businesses, organisations, individuals and academic institutions.

Fulton Hogan national development manager, Michael Fulton says his own company is evaluating the use of renewable hydrogen to replace the fossil fuels used in its day-to-day operations.

An association founding member, Fulton Hogan employs more than 7500 people across the transport, infrastructure, water, energy, mining and land development sectors in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific.

Other association founding members include Hyundai New Zealand, Siemens (NZ), Green Cabs, Venture Southland, and Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds.