This story first appeared in the April issue of AutoTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE
New Zealand can take advantage of a low-emissions economy with the development of hydrogen technology and the support of the trucking and transport industry, a new report finds.
The H2 Taranaki Roadmap, launched with prime minister Jacinda Ardern and energy and resources minister Megan Woods on March 15, looks at the potential for the region to leverage its existing skills and infrastructure to become a global leader in hydrogen production and utilisation.
H2 Taranaki is a partnership between the New Plymouth District Council, regional development agency Venture Taranaki, local hydrogen transport and infrastructure firm Hiringa Energy and the Government.
The plan for H2 Taranaki is to advance the take-up of hydrogen technologies in Taranaki, helping position the region as a world leader in sustainable transport and energy solutions.
H2 Taranaki is starting out with a feasibility study and roadmap development which will cost $190,000, with $140,000 funded from New Plymouth District Council, Hiringa Energy and Venture Taranaki, and $50,000 coming from the Provincial Growth Fund.
Hiringa Energy also received $950,000 from the Provincial Growth Fund in July last year as part of the project.
The funding is being used to scope the engineering and design of two hydrogen generation facilities, up to four mobile compressed hydrogen storage and distribution containers, and up to three hydrogen refuelling stations.
Venture Taranaki chief executive Justine Gilliland says New Zealand “is moving to a low-emissions future, and that means we need to look at a wide range of options to support that transition”.
“As a region, we expect the global energy landscape to change, and we want to be part of that change.
The H2 Taranaki Roadmap is part of a plan to help ensure Taranaki’s skills, experience, knowledge and infrastructure can maximise the opportunities this transition provides.”
The roadmap identifies opportunities to apply the existing expertise within the region’s energy sector to the development of hydrogen technology.
Hydrogen can be utilised as a fuel, particularly for heavy vehicles, as a feedstock for products such as urea or methanol, or to store electrical energy for long periods of time from weeks to years.
“Hydrogen is already produced in Taranaki from natural gas.
The roadmap forecasts that in future it will be increasingly produced using electricity to split water, with the only emission being oxygen,” Gilliland says.
When renewable electricity is used the outcome is “green hydrogen”.
The opportunity for New Zealand to produce green hydrogen has generated strong interest in export markets, according to the report.
“Taranaki is perfectly positioned to leverage opportunities for the production of green hydrogen.
“We have significant water, wind and solar resources, existing hydrogen production infrastructure and expertise, and established energy generation and distribution infrastructure.
“The development of a hydrogen industry will be further supported by the region’s industrial, service and operational industries, strong culture of health and safety, and deep-water port with easy access to export markets in Australia and Asia.
“Hydrogen offers Taranaki an enormous economic opportunity to be extremely well positioned as we head into a low-emissions future.
This roadmap is a crucial first step, that builds on the region’s foundations, to remain globally competitive and meet the aspirations of a cleaner emissions future,” Gilliland says.
Hiringa Energy chief executive Andrew Clennett, author of the report, says hydrogen has huge potential in transitioning the regional economy.
“Taranaki is very fortunate with its natural resources, infrastructure, and the forward thinking and the leadership shown by our regional officials and industry.
“Hiringa is enjoying working with progressive partners to develop a number of exciting projects that will help future-proof jobs in the region while contributing to New Zealand’s future energy needs,” Clennett says.
The report says development of hydrogen technology in the region has the potential to pump billions into the economy through domestic and export revenue as well as create significant employment opportunities.
Establishment of a New Plymouth refuelling station and out-of-region connecting hubs, to service buses, trucks, light commercial, waste and contractor specialised vehicles are among a number of steps within the near-term public and private sector projects to be pushed along.
The report says trucks are a good place to start when it comes to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEV).
Trucks “demonstrate a number of the key advantages” of the technology such as high payload, high utilisation and long range, thus helping support a total cost of ownership (TCO) business case”.
“They also represent an opportunity to have the most significant reduction in greenhouse gas and particulate emission.
Heavy FCEV truck development has been more recent but is gaining significant momentum.
The need to decarbonise heavy transport has placed the focus on the heavy transport space,” the report says.
Hiringa Energy has conducted analysis of a standard 800km daily duty with the latest available truck performance data and New Zealand logistics costs.
The study finds the total cost per kilometre of hydrogen FCEV trucks is projected to reach parity with diesel by the mid 2020s while battery electric vehicle (BEV) “are not expected to achieve parity with diesel until after 2030, if at all,” it says.
“The FCEV advantage over both diesel and BEV will improve further as the vehicle costs and delivered hydrogen price reduces.
“The major opportunities in Taranaki for heavy trucks are for line haul freight, milk collection and dairy product delivery, industrial solid & liquid bulk delivery fleets and forestry fleets,” the report says.
Hiringa Energy has partnered with New Plymouth-based freight and logistics company Transport Investments Limited (TIL), to develop FCEV transport solutions in New Zealand.
TIL’s national fleet comprises 900 trucks, 310 forklifts and 170 light vehicles.
Hiringa, TIL, and other large fleet owner operators are jointly working with the international OEMs and fuel cell manufacturers to develop heavy vehicle solutions for the NZ market.
The development of a heavy trucking solution is of particular interest and is incorporated in the planned H2 Taranaki Roadmap.
*Go to venture.taranaki.info to read the full report.
