The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) welcomes the Australian Government‘s National Electric Vehicle Strategy, saying the pipeline infrastructure will be critical in ensuring reliable, cost-effective refuelling for Australia’s hydrogen electric heavy transport fleet.
In a media release, APGA said the recently released National Electric Vehicle Strategy acknowledges hydrogen’s potential for long-distance freight transportation. An APGA study demonstrated that a pipeline supply chain concept best serves heavy transport on Australia’s network of main highways to support hydrogen refuelling.
According to APGA, due to their five-minute refuelling intervals and decreased weight per truck, hydrogen fuel cell trucks offer significant advantages for heavy transport, resulting in fewer highway closures for road maintenance. It also significantly contributes to reducing heavy transport emissions in metropolitan and regional locations.
APGA Chief Executive Steve Davies stated that thousands of tonnes of hydrogen would be required for hydrogen fueling along the domestic highway network, with pipelines enabling transport and storage for lower-cost refuelling stations and production in renewable energy zones.
“Australia has the opportunity to be a world-leader in decarbonising its transport sector, which will be imperative to achieving net zero by 2050. The use of pipeline infrastructure along major transport corridors will help kickstart the local hydrogen production sector as well as support the uptake of zero-emission heavy vehicles across Australia,” Davies said.
The APGA submitted two case studies as part of the National Electric Vehicle Strategy consultation, outlining the possibility of hydrogen pipelines along the Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney, centred on the Wagga Wagga Renewable Energy Zone, and the Pacific Highway between Sydney and Brisbane, centred on the New England Renewable Energy Zone.
APGA said pipelines were proven to be substantially more cost-effective than tube-trailer delivery.
The APGA’s analysis backs up the historic tri-state partnership for a renewable hydrogen fuelling network, with the Hume Hydrogen Highway planned to be the first project.
