The Hume Highway is to become the focus of a multimillion-dollar trial of hydrogen trucking along Australia’s busiest freight corridor. The trial may mark the beginning of large-scale clean energy long-haul transport along the Eastern seaboard.
The $20 million available in grant funding is intended to support the design and delivery of at least four refuelling stations along the Hume, to service about 25 hydrogen-powered trucks.
The Victorian Government has invested $10 million in grant funding for the Hume Hydrogen Highway project, which New South Wales has matched.
The Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland governments are collaborating on the development of a renewable hydrogen highway by 2026, focusing on the Hume, Pacific and Newell highways.
“Australia’s busiest corridor is the perfect place to kickstart the transition to a zero-emission freight sector,” Energy, Environment and Climate Action Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.
“The renewable hydrogen highway will create new jobs, drive investment across the east coast and is a landmark step towards meeting Victoria’s target to halve emissions by 2030 as we work towards net-zero by 2050.”
New South Wales Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the project would be used to determine the merits of a wider roll-out of a hydrogen network.
“The Hume Hydrogen Highway will provide a replicable and scalable solution that will determine the future roll-out of a statewide hydrogen refuelling network,” he said.
“What we’re looking for is strong industry collaboration between refuelling station operators, fleet operators, truck manufacturers, major freight customers, and other entities which will be vital to the success of the initiative.”
Ms D’Ambrosio said the Hume Hydrogen Highway project would create new jobs and investment in the two states, as well as build local knowledge, skills, infrastructure and supply chains.
She said it aimed to drive widespread commercial uptake of renewable hydrogen in the heavy transport sector, which was currently powered predominantly by diesel and was responsible for 25 per cent of Victoria’s total carbon footprint.
‘GoSeymour’ president Stuart Locke says that despite being more volatile than electricity, hydrogen does seem like the best option for long-haul transport.
Mr Locke's transport business, Seymour Passenger Services, recently won a bid to trial-run a full fleet of zero emission buses in Seymour, making his business the first fully electric bus operator in Victoria.
Like the hydrogen highway proposal, Seymour Passenger Services’ zero emission fleet will be a model, offering insights that can be extrapolated and scaled for the wider transition to cleaner transport energy sources across Australia.
Mr Locke says that from his personal perspective, a hydrogen refuelling station may be a good opportunity for Seymour, providing it is located on the Hume Hwy.
“There may be a case for one southbound,’’ he said
“We always want something that generates more employment, work and development for our town”.
Mr Locke said if the refuelling station proved to be a viable option it could boost Seymour's profile as a hub for green transport, helping to attract manufacturers and skilled workers to Seymour.
Grant applications are now open, and close on Friday, October 21.
For more information, visit: energy.vic.gov.au/grants/hume-hydrogen-highway/