Plans to establish Australia’s first “renewable hydrogen highway,” and green up one of the nation’s busiest freight corridors along the east coast, have kicked off with the launch of a joint New South Wales and Victoria grant funding round.
Applications for grants opened on Monday, with $20 million set aside to support the design and delivery of at least four renewable hydrogen refuelling stations along the highway and roughly 25 hydrogen-powered trucks.
Successful applicants must enter into a joint funding agreement with both governments, each of which has pitched in $10 million towards the so-called Hume Hydrogen Highway.
The establishment of the Hume Hydrogen Highway marks the first part of a broader tri-state plan – announced in March – that will extend further along the east coast to Queensland starting in 2026, connecting up the Hume Highway, the Pacific Highway and the Newell Highway.
“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,” said NSW energy minister Matt Kean.
“This initiative aims to show the potential of renewable hydrogen for heavy vehicles with the goal of transitioning the freight sector to zero emissions energy sources.
“The Hume Hydrogen Highway will create new jobs and attract investment to NSW and Victoria. It’s expected to drive uptake of renewable hydrogen in the heavy transport sector,” Kean said.
Heavy transport is often lumped in with other “hard to abate” sectors in government decarbonisation plans, many of which are expected to rely on renewable hydrogen to transition to net-zero emissions.
To this end, many truck makers are now turning their focus to the development of hydrogen fuel cell models, although many are also hedging their bets and making electric long-haul trucks, too.
Governments, likewise, are keeping their options open. Victoria’s energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio said transport was one of Australia’s largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, in Victoria accounting for 25 per cent of the state’s total carbon footprint.
“Australia’s busiest corridor is the perfect place to kickstart the transition to a zero-emission freight sector,” 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.”
Grant applications for the Hume Hydrogen Highway close 21 October 2022.
Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.