The Victorian and Australian Governments are opening Australia’s largest hydrogen refuelling 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 has officially opened the new $61.2 million Viva Energy New Energies Service Station in Corio, Geelong.
“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,” she said.
The project was funded by the Australian 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 2.5 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 refuelling 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 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 and 450 kilometres.
This is the first hydrogen project in Australia to combine both supply and demand on one site, featuring 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, which are expected to be on Victorian roads within two years, servicing a range of industries.
The project serves as a gateway for the expansion of renewable hydrogen transport and its potential to support industries that are traditionally difficult to decarbonise.
Under the Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund, the Victorian 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.
