Australia’s largest hydrogen refuelling project is now officially open, with the Federal and Victorian governments launching the new service station in Corio, Geelong.
The $61.2 million Viva Energy New Energies Service Station is the country’s first public service station to offer renewable hydrogen to commercial trucks and transport, and aims to help drive down emissions and lower fuel costs over time.
The project was funded by the Federal Government’s $34 million investment through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and a $1 million investment through the Victorian Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund.
The service station is located on one of Victoria’s key transport corridors, on the corner of the Princes Highway and Station Street. The station features a 2.5MW on-site electrolyser, which converts recycled water from Barwon Water and renewable electricity into renewable hydrogen.
The site will initially accommodate five buses and trucks refuelling every day and ramp up to 12 to 15 vehicles over the next two years.
The station is designed to refuel ten trucks or buses consecutively in under two hours, with a refuelling time of around 15 minutes for the average fill. Depending on the vehicle type and load, the average fill will provide a range of between 200–450km.
The Victorian Government said it is the first hydrogen project in Australia with both supply and demand on one site, with the production of hydrogen and the refuelling of vehicles. The station also features charging options for electric vehicles.
As part of the project, Viva Energy will also deploy 15 hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles that will be on Victorian roads and servicing a range of industries within two years.
According to the State Government, the project is a gateway for the expansion of renewable hydrogen transport and its potential to service industries that are traditionally hard to decarbonise.
Under the Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund, the Victorian Government said it has invested $6.6 million towards projects that support renewable hydrogen pilots, trials and demonstrations in Victoria.
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “We are supporting our emerging renewable hydrogen sector to expand and help industries like transport reduce their emissions – helping Victoria achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.”
Victorian Member for Lara, Ella George, said, “This is a fantastic achievement from our governments – bringing renewable hydrogen to commercial transport for the local community in Geelong.”
