Townsville heavy vehicles might soon be driving on hydrogen thanks to a $5 million investment from the Queensland Government in new prime movers and a refuelling facility.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles announced that Aurizon‘s application for the second round of the $35 million Hydrogen Industry Development Fund (HIDF) was successful.
The announcement follows the publication of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, the Palaszczuk Government’s vision for a visionary clean energy future for Queensland that includes the largest pumped hydro project in the history of the globe.
“Townsville and North Queensland are big winners in Queensland’s Energy and Jobs Plan, lining the region up to become a renewable energy powerhouse. Aurizon’s project will put four hydrogen-fuelled prime movers on the road in Townsville and create more opportunities for other businesses to convert their transport fleets to new technology fuel,” Deputy Premier Miles said.
According to the Deputy Premier, the North West Minerals Province would be linked to the new electrical Super Grid by transmission infrastructure built as part of the Energy Plan from Townsville to Hughenden.
“Connecting Hughenden and Townsville will unlock more renewables and is a critical step to connecting Mount Isa to the grid. We’re also working on fast-tracking the connection to Mount Isa and the North West Minerals Province, which would unlock hundreds of billions of dollars and thousands of jobs,” the Deputy Premier added.
Minister for Energy, Hydrogen and Renewables Mick de Brenni said around $800 million has already been invested in over 400 MW of large-scale renewable energy in Townsville, creating over 900 jobs.
“The plan will create 64,000 jobs in clean energy infrastructure, including new skilled jobs in construction of transmission and renewable energy projects. Connecting Mount Isa to the transmission network represents a unique opportunity to support a clean energy industrial ecosystem from the North West Minerals Province to Townsville, growing opportunities for jobs in the clean energy economy,” Minister de Brenni stated.
Minister de Brenni added that the second round was the HIDF’s largest prior investment in Queensland’s expanding hydrogen supply system. He said the Aurizon project is a crucial milestone in Townsville’s development into a world leader in green hydrogen.
According to Aurizon Managing Director and CEO Andrew Harding, one of the rising energy options, renewable hydrogen, can help businesses decarbonise operations across the supply chain while maintaining cost competitiveness.
“Aurizon is Australia’s largest rail freight company, and renewable hydrogen will play an important role in enabling us to reach our target of net zero operational emissions by 2050. Queensland Government funding will assist us to look at replacing diesel-powered trucks with new technology hydrogen fuel cell electric heavy vehicles,” Harding stated.
Minister for Resources and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said Aurizon would use four hydrogen-powered prime movers to transport products within and around its freight operations at Stuart Terminal and the Port of Townsville.
“It’s projects like this that have allowed us to deliver the transforming Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan because we’re a government that invests, and we have a private sector that has confidence in Queensland,” Minister Stewart added.
According to Member for Mundingburra and North Queensland Hydrogen Champion Les Waker, the prime movers are anticipated to significantly reduce the amount of diesel fuel used for road transportation, with the potential to minimise carbon dioxide emissions by up to 1,000 tonnes annually.
“Aurizon plans to build a refuelling station in Townsville and source hydrogen from another company that’s also progressing renewable hydrogen use in the north, Ark Energy. Just last week, Townsville’s own Ark Energy signed the first MOU for international green energy exports from North Queensland,” Walker said.
The Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, according to Thuringowa member Aaron Harper, will position Townsville and North Queensland as leaders in the renewable energy sector.
“By providing more clean, reliable, and affordable energy, we can shore up our existing industry and bring more manufacturing jobs home. Because we kept energy assets in public hands, we have unprecedented control over our own destiny and this plan locks in Queensland’s energy security for the future,” Harper added.
