The National Road Carriers (NRC) transport and logistics advisory group is strengthening its sustainability credentials by welcoming onboard Fullers Group chief executive Mike Horne.
Horne has been leading Fullers360 with innovations on the water and NRC expects this knowledge will add strength to the road transport industry in areas such as hydrogen network infrastructure.
NRC chief executive Justin Tighe-Umbers says the network challenges facing the marine and road transport industry are similar.
“Road transport will be impacted by how hydrogen network infrastructure is solved for maritime.
“Investment in the right infrastructure to deliver sustainable energy solutions requires significant investment,” Tighe-Umbers says.
How this is achieved is still to be determined for the transport sector and a publicly funded model “feels unlikely”, he adds.
He reckons a utility-based model could work where network operators and energy companies set up the infrastructure and use a tariff-based payment model to cover the cost of investments.
“Equally, an integrated model could work, where private business comes together with support from public funding to collaborate with energy companies, charging station providers and hydrogen suppliers to establish stations for selected transport segments such as trucking and marine,” Tighe-Umbers says.
“Connecting to the issues affecting our marine transport operators is extremely valuable.
“Sharing insights and having an alternative view of the sustainability landscape with insights from Mike adds a valuable layer to the advisory group and will help NRC prepare members for the coming energy transition.”
Under Horne’s stewardship, Fullers360 has taken on several innovative projects to tackle emissions.
This includes teaming up with sustainable boat company SeaChange to bring a zero-emission hydrofoil onto Auckland’s waters this year to other innovations such as hybrid-electric ferries, 100% electric ferries and fitting more efficient diesel engines to older boats.
However, there are plenty of challenges ahead and battery electric is not always the perfect solution, Horne says.
This is due to the weight and size of the batteries and the amount of power and time required to recharge.
“Auckland’s future transport needs will most likely be solved with a mix of lower carbon solutions – electric, hybrid, hydrogen, and more efficient diesel.
“We fully expect the mix to change over time as technology efficiencies develop and deliver both performance and cost savings,” Horne says.
Hydrogen technology is seen as a potential clean energy alternative for the commercial transport sector and New Zealand is fortunate that almost 100% can be sourced sustainably to make green hydrogen.
“Hydrogen-powered technology is now developing at pace as the sector appreciates the need to make sure it offers a viable solution for industry,” Horne adds.
“Aside from enabling the commercial transport of hydrogen in viable quantities, technology is also being created to make it more cost effective to use. Work is being done to increase energy efficiencies and maintain hydrogen purity while minimising leakage.
“The old adage that electric is the only solution is now a thing of the past, and with a range of sustainable transport technologies and advancements underway, I think we are going to see both marine and trucking powering ahead in the short to medium term,” Horne says.
