Hiringa launches hydrogen refuelling network

Taranaki-based green hydrogen developer Hiringa Energy has marked the opening of New Zealand’s first zero-emission green hydrogen refuelling network set to service heavy freight across the North Island.

The initiative is the first of its kind in Australasia and was officially launched with the opening of its refuelling site in Wiri, South Auckland, on 23 April. The company will be providing an update and insight for forestry companies and log transport operators, into this initiative and other plans for the roll out of their green hydrogen refuelling network in the Wood Transport & Logistics 2024 event.

The network, which sees the production of green hydrogen on site, has been established in partnership with New Zealand fuel supplier Waitomo Group and heavy commercial vehicle rental and lease business TR Group. Along with the Wiri site, the launch also sees stations opening in Hamilton and Palmerston North. A fourth site is also set to open in Tauranga as part of the new Tauriko SH29 roading infrastructure upgrade.

The initial phase represents a total investment of NZ$50 million to install the stations. Network infrastructure establishment received support from the New Zealand Government via a NZ$16 million loan, growth capital from key investors including Sir Stephen Tindall’s fund K1W1, and international investment from Mitsui & Co Ltd and Green Impact Partners alongside Hiringa Energy.

It creates a green energy network positioned to service 95% of the heavy freight routes across the North Island including the “Golden Triangle” of freight movement between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.

The launch event included NZ Post’s Hyundai Xcient fuel cell truck(again, results on road from the last 12 months of operations will be detailed at the upcoming Wood Transport & Logistics 2024 event) and Auckland Transport’s hydrogen fuel cell bus which are currently in operation. There are soon expected to be 22 hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) on the road and using the refuelling network.

This includes TR Group signing a revised commercial agreement with US-based hydrogen truck startup Hyzon Motors for the delivery of up to 20 hydrogen fuel cell trucks. TR Group will own and lease the trucks to several leading logistics companies and their end customers.

Express freight company PBT, Fulton Hogan, Move Logistics Group and Golden Bay Cement have all signalled interest in becoming first adopters of the hydrogen trucks. The refuelling stations will enable heavy vehicles to refuel with green hydrogen in 10 to 20 minutes.

“Heavy transport plays a vital role in our economy, but it’s also a significant contributor to our national emissions,” Hiringa chief executive Andrew Clennett says. “As a first-of-its-kind across Australasia and one of the first networks set up globally to service heavy transport, the initiative addresses this major challenge by providing operators with the infrastructure they need to switch to zero-emission transport in an efficient, scalable and commercially viable manner.”

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Source: transporttalk