Hydrogen transportation project to start
Shane Jones
Nearly $260,000 will be invested in the first stage of a hydrogen infrastructure project in Taranaki through First Gas.
The investment is one of three from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) to help the region prepare for its future in the energy, food and beverage and air connectivity sectors, announced by regional economic development minister Shane Jones.
“Phase one of the hydrogen infrastructure project will explore opportunities for the development of a low emission hydrogen economy,” Jones says.
“I’m pleased to be able to make this announcement the same week the Government launched its vision for hydrogen, as a way for us to reduce global emissions.
“The project will assess the existing gas transportation infrastructure for its potential to support future hydrogen transportation,” he says.
“The Government is committed to supporting Taranaki in its transition to a low emissions economy. This initial investment will take important steps towards potentially utilising existing gas infrastructure as part of the region’s clean energy future.”
The others include improving connectivity and journey time reliability at New Plymouth Airport, said to have the shortest commercial runway in New Zealand ($56,762 to the New Plymouth District Council); and a $300,000 loan for Acos Filler to commercialise their machines which fill and cap carbonated drinks, enhancing and retaining flavour and extending shelf life.
Join the conversation (1)
Hydrogen is a dead duck. 96% of Hydrogen is produced from natural gas, which apart from being a fossil fuel, has a limited future. Also the power you get from the resulting Hydrogen is less than the original natural gas had when you add in the energy cost of conversion.
Also, to store Hydrogen in the quantities needed for the same journey you can get out of a tank of petrol, a similarly sized tank of Hydrogen would have to be pressurised to 700,000psi (you pump your car tyres up to just 30psi). Do you really want you kids sitting on top of that explosive bomb?
Even if you make Hydrogen by electrolysis, the resulting Hydrogen, less the efficiency loss of a fuel-cell, is less than taking the same electricity and charging a BEV.
Forget Hydrogen!