Australia's first commercial hydrogen refuelling station opens in Port Kembla
The H2 Station, situated at the Coregas Port Kembla industrial gas facility, marks a significant breakthrough in promoting zero-emissions heavy road vehicles.
The Coregas H2 Station is poised to become a vital piece of enabling infrastructure for the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region's transition to cleaner, greener energy sources.
As one of 15 projects benefiting from the $2.1 million funding allocation under Round 4 of the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund, the Coregas H2 Station epitomizes the fund's commitment to revitalizing the area for the community's benefit.
The H2 Station's design allows for a substantial daily capacity of 400kg of hydrogen, surpassing the limited capacity of existing hydrogen refuelling stations tailored for passenger vehicles, which typically offer only around 20kg/day.
Unlike traditional electric vehicle batteries, Fuel Cell Electrical Vehicles (FCEV) powered by hydrogen offer heavy vehicles a lighter, longer-distance solution, combined with rapid refuelling and high payload capabilities, making them a promising alternative for environmentally conscious transportation.
Ryan Park, the Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, hailed the station as a catalyst for the development of the hydrogen sector in Australia.
“The H2 Station will demonstrate the technology’s potential to improve energy security, create jobs and investment, and decarbonise the transport sector,” Mr Park said.
With the station enabling the refuelling of up to 10 zero emissions hydrogen vehicles per day, Alan Watkins, Executive General Manager of Coregas, hailed the project as a game-changer for Australia's clean mobility revolution.
Watkins expressed his gratitude to the NSW Government for making the venture possible, and he believes this marks the beginning of a significant shift towards transitioning Coregas' distribution fleet.
With Coregas' diesel truck fleet covering nearly 6 million kilometers annually, equivalent to driving 150 times around the world, the move to FCEVs is expected to address 54% of Coregas' carbon emissions.
The opening of the Coregas H2 Station not only signifies a significant step towards a greener, more sustainable future for the region, but allows the community to witness firsthand the potential of hydrogen-powered vehicles to revolutionize the transport landscape.
Take a tour of Coregas’ Port Kembla Hydrogen plant here.
