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Green hydrogen-powered buses, lorries, and vehicles may become a reality in New South Wales in the near future, owing to a new partnership between energy infrastructure company Jemena and gas supply business Coregas.
Jemena will manufacture and supply green hydrogen from its Western Sydney plant beginning in early 2022 for use by transport and industrial customers. This is the first time in New South Wales’ transportation history that the state’s transportation industry will have access to green hydrogen.
Gabrielle Sycamore, Jemena’s General Manager for Renewable Gas, said the deal illustrates the potential for green hydrogen to store renewable energy and integrate future gas, electric, and transportation refueling networks.
“We know that green hydrogen has the immediate potential to become a viable zero emission alternative to many petroleum-based fossil fuels currently used by industries such as transport and remote power generation,” Ms Sycamore said. “Hydrogen fuel cells are particularly well suited to long distance heavy haulage trucking requirements based on their comparatively light weight and fast refuelling times which can be just a matter of minutes.”
Hydrogen is used in countries around the world to power fuel cell buses and autos. In Japan, 500 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are being utilized to transport athletes and workers to the Tokyo Olympics (hydrogen is also used to power the Olympic torch), while in London, hydrogen fuel cell buses are being used for public transportation.
Jemena’s $15 million Western Sydney Green Gas Project will produce the green hydrogen. The Power-to-Gas project, which is co-funded by ARENA, converts renewable electricity to hydrogen gas that can be blended and stored in Jemena’s gas distribution network to supply New South Wales households and businesses.
“Together with the Western Sydney Green Gas Project, Jemena is bringing renewable gas to homes and businesses across New South Wales, it’s also offering the transport industry the opportunity to create their own path to a low carbon future,” Ms Sycamore said.
“Our partnership with Coregas is an exciting extension to the Western Sydney Green Gas Project and will allow the New South Wales transport industry to innovate by offering cleaner energy solutions to their customers.”
Coregas Executive General Manager Alan Watkins commented that Coregas is working hard to apply their expertise in hydrogen distribution, compression and storage as part of Australia’s transition to a hydrogen economy.
“Transforming the transport sector is a critical piece of the puzzle, and we are delighted to partner with Jemena to make renewably generated green hydrogen available to the transport industry in New South Wales,” Mr Watkins said.
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