The New Energies Service Station in Geelong, a hydrogen refuelling station by Viva Energy, has received development approval and is expected to be operational in 2024.
Costing $44.65 million, with $22.8 million funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the project aims to support hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), specifically buses and trucks.
“This will be the first deployment of FCEV fleets in Australia serviced by commercial hydrogen supply contracts and embedded into the existing operations of some of our most well-known commercial road transport businesses,” ARENA said on its website.
According to ARENA, this project marks the inaugural deployment of fuel cell electric vehicle fleets in Australia, integrated into the operations of key commercial road transport businesses, showcasing their potential to replace or complement diesel vehicles.
Adjacent to Viva Energy’s petroleum refinery, the station will include a 2MW electrolyser, hydrogen compression, storage, dispensing infrastructure, and a 150kW electric vehicle charging facility. Hydrogen production will utilise renewable energy sources.
Viva is also working with waste management solutions provider Cleanaway on a six-month demonstration of 100 per cent renewable diesel, aiming to contribute to emission reduction in the Australian transport sector.
The project involves Cleanaway operating two waste collection trucks using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), an alternative to traditional diesel derived from fossil fuels.
According to Viva, HVO is produced from waste feedstocks like used cooking oil and can potentially cut greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles by up to 90 per cent.
Cleanaway Managing Director and CEO Mark Schubert said the company is pleased to be launching the project.
“We’re pleased to be launching our HVO100 demonstration, with two vehicles powered by this 100 percent traceable and renewable fuel that will emit up to 90 per cent less greenhouse gas than regular fossil diesel. The use of HVO100 in Cleanaway trucks is part of our Blueprint 2030 strategy to reduce the carbon impact of our operations and increase circularity from the material we collect,” Schubert said.
“We’re committed to leading our industry with innovative and fit-for-purpose solutions that align with our customers’ goals while driving forward to support the achievement of federal emissions targets.”
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