New Energies Service Station Geelong Demonstration Project

Project overview

Lead Organisation
Viva Energy Australia
Location
Geelong, Victoria
ARENA Program
Advancing Renewables Program
Start date
28 February 2022
End date
31 December 2026
Project Partners
Toll Transport, ComfortDelGro Corporation Australi, Cleanaway Operations, Barwon Region Water Corporation

Summary

The New Energies Service Station Geelong Demonstration Project by Viva Energy is a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) hydrogen refuelling station located in Geelong, Victoria, to support the uptake of hydrogen FCEVs in heavy fleets.

Need

The New Energies Service Station Geelong Demonstration Project aims to drive demand for hydrogen in parallel with infrastructure development to overcome the chicken-and-egg challenge that has been a key hurdle for the sector.

This will be the first deployment of FCEV fleets in Australia serviced by commercial hydrogen supply contracts and embedded into the existing operations of some of our most well-known commercial road transport businesses.

By demonstrating the potential of FCEVs to complement (and eventually replace) incumbent diesel prime movers, waste trucks and buses in existing back-to-base transport applications, the project will reduce the carbon footprint of the heavy vehicle transport we rely on every day.

Action

The New Energies Service Station will be built adjacent to Viva Energy’s petroleum refinery and incorporate a 2 MW electrolyser along with hydrogen compression, storage and dispensing infrastructure. The project’s hydrogen will be generated using renewable energy and the service station will also include a 150kW electric vehicle charging facility.

The project also includes the procurement of an expected 15 hydrogen FCEVs which will be owned and operated by the project’s partners.

The project is expected to begin refuelling the first group of hydrogen powered heavy FCEVs late in 2023.

Outcome

The project aims to drive demand for hydrogen in transport applications and support Australia’s vision to become a leading hydrogen producer.

The project has the potential to catalyse future hydrogen refuelling sites and FCEV heavy vehicle deployment by generating data on hydrogen refuelling in commercial quantities and on FCEV performance.

The project will also provide learnings on the regulatory and approvals pathway for the development of a publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling station.