The Allan and Albanese Labor Government are opening Australia's largest hydrogen refueling project and the first public service station to offer renewable hydrogen to commercial trucks and transport - helping drive down emissions and lower fuel costs over time.
Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Ambrosio officially open the new for the $61.2 million Viva Energy New Energies Service Station in Corio, Geelong.
The project was funded by the Albanese Labor Government's $34 million investment through Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and a $1 million investment through the Allan Labor 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 2.5 megawatt onsite electrolyser, which converts recycled water from Barwon Water and renewable electricity, into renewable hydrogen.
The site will initially accommodate 5 buses and trucks refueling every day and ramp up to 12 to 15 vehicles over the next two years.
The station is designed to refuel 10 trucks or buses consecutively in under two hours, with a refueling 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 200-450 kilometers.
This is the first hydrogen project in Australia with both supply and demand on one site, with the production of hydrogen and the refueling 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 within two years and servicing a range of industries.
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 Allan Labor Government has invested $6.6 million towards projects that support renewable hydrogen pilots, trials, and demonstrations in Victoria.
For more information visit energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/renewable-hydrogen.
As stated by Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D'Ambrosio
"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."
As stated by Member for Lara Ella George
"This is a fantastic achievement from our governments - bringing renewable hydrogen to commercial transport for the local community in Geelong."
