New Zealand needs to catch up with global demand for hydrogen technology
Heavy transport vehicles could be the first to convert to hydrogen energy as efforts to decarbonise New Zealand start to take shape. But the convenience of plugging into a portable hydrogen-powered generator next to the wool shed or around Kiwi farms, to replace diesel or petrol units, could be some years away. That would require an economy of scale to develop to bring costs down to a point where hydrogen fuel cell technology could be deployed into other parts of our lives, to decrease carbon emissions. The pros and cons of hydrogen energy were discussed by a panel of experts lined up as part of the Future Fuels in Agriculture series presented at Fieldays Online, hosted by Te Radar. READ MORE: * Rolling out the hydrogen highway * Kiwi companies team up to build hydrogen refueling network * Toyota Mirai hydrogen car is a nerd no more The panel agreed that, potentially, anything with a conventional petrol or diesel engine could be converted to use hydrogen, emitting no carbon emissions just water vapour. It included trains, boats, trucks, light passenger vehicles , bicycles as well as tractors, quad-bikes and motorbikes on our farms. Panellists for the Future Fuels discussion included Hyundai NZ spokesman Gavin Young, New Zealand Hydrogen Association Chief Executive Linda Wright and Hiringa Energy Chief Technology Officer Dan Kahn. Hyundai NZ introduced its first zero emissions, hydrogen-powered SUV at Fieldays in 2019 . Young said hydrogen-powered cars would complement, rather than replace, electric and hybrid vehicles as part of an overall drive to reduce carbon emissions. We have electric vehicles already on roads around New Zealand and we have some electric car models too. We believe we should not be looking at just one energy source but thinking about what role hydrogen plays in decarbonising New Zealand. We believe hydrogen fuel cell technology, with electric, can co-exist. The panel was asked what was holding back hydrogen technology in New Zealand. Hydrogen-power vehicles needed refuelling stations and at the moment there were none in the country. But Dan Kahn said Hiringa was in the development phase of establishing hydrogen refuelling stations across New Zealand. He said our roading network, combined with distances between each centre, made it much easier to plan refuelling stations compared to countries in Europe with multiple borders and differing policies on reducing emissions. In New Zealand, we are looking at four to eight stations to cover about 95 per cent of the main freight routes. Kahn said New Zealand needed a strong direction on how the country wanted to decarbonise the transport network. "Were not only working with Government but also major trucking lease organisations and freight partners to start pulling together a coalition to offer green, zero emissions freight solutions. Gavin Young said commercial heavy vehicle operators were keen to adopt hydrogen-power transport and once refuelling stations were set up, customers would feel more comfortable about purchasing hydrogen-powered vehicles. He said fuel cell technology is the latest in green mobility and therefore attracted a premium price. But the major benefit was hydrogens ability to eliminate emissions from the heavy transport industry. So trucks and buses for example would be the first industries to tackle, to get our decarbonisation under control. Public awareness of hydrogen energy was low in New Zealand and Linda Wright said it was something that needed extra attention. Hydrogen can be a liquid or gas and it is the most common elements on earth. It's very light and banded in all matter so it is ubiquitously available so there arent any issues in terms of our ability to use it sustainably. Wright said globally there is unprecedented investment going into producing hydrogen for range of sectors in a way that is emissions-free and thats what we are focused on in New Zealand. Other countries are well on the way to have an existing network of refuelling stations ... we need to catch up. Wright said global interest in hydrogen presented an opportunity for Kiwis to put their innovative skills to use, to become a leader in the technology. The panel also discussed the possibility of New Zealand exporting hydrogen to the rest of the world. But Dan Kahn said it was more important to build a domestic story first. If you look at whats happening in Australia, they have large hydrogen projects for export but not focussed on decarbonising the local economy. Hydrogen opportunities in NZ *Marsden Point: The country's sole oil refinery using new technologies, including solar and hydrogen, to lower its costs or review new, low-carbon business lines in the future. *Ports of Auckland: A hydrogen production and refuelling facility, as a demonstration project. *Ballance Agri-Nutrients and Hiringa Energy: $19.9 million funding from Provincial Growth Fund for production of green hydrogen from renewable electricity and water, in Taranaki. *H2 Taranaki Roadmap: Outlines potential for Taranaki to leverage its existing skills, infrastructure and natural resources to become a leader in hydrogen production and utilisation. *Tuaropaki Trust: Geothermal powered hydrogen pilot project, Taupo. *Tourist transport, South Island: Decarbonise long-distance tourism transport through hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle passenger buses, under investigation by Real Journeys. Source: Hydrogen New Zealand