Countrywide Hydrogen has signed a co-operation agreement with 7R Logistics/Blu Logistics (7R) as they strive to enable green hydrogen use by fuel-heavy transport vehicles in Tasmania, with other states to then follow.
Road transport accounts for at least 20% of Tasmania’s emissions – reported to be 30% in Hobart -accounting for 220 premature deaths and 380 premature hospitalisations, according to a University of Melbourne study.
Countrywide wants to have three Tasmanian hydrogen refuelling sites – near Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie – allowing the state’s major transport routes to be covered by a network of refuelling stations.
Hydrogen-powered trucks deliver similar or better performance than diesel equivalents in terms of power output, torque, payload, refuelling time, range, and whole-of-life cost of operation, says Countrywide.
Hydrogen-powered trucks will be available in Australia to coincide with Countrywide’s first hydrogen production in Tasmania.
7R has become the first transport operator in the state to sign on to offer a zero-emissions option to customers.
It operates 12 heavy vehicles powered by diesel in Tasmania, on average operating over 200,000km a year and each emitting 250 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Extrapolating these numbers across this fleet will mean emissions reductions of 3000 tonnes a year by converting to fuel cell vehicles.
“This partnership with 7R will help to promote the benefits of, and fast track the development of, green hydrogen projects in Tasmania,” says Countrywide managing director Geoffrey Drucker.
“To help achieve this we are calling for support where possible from the state government to help enable the transition to zero-emissions road transport.
“With government support, together we can promote the commitment to zero-emissions road transport, while actively encouraging and supporting others in the industry to transition to zero emissions.”
A strong appetite exists among many Australian companies to secure freight services that offer a zero-emissions alternative, says 7R Logistics managing director Tim Jensen.
“We are pleased to be partnering with Countrywide to offer our customers a critically fast-refuelling hydrogen electric option.”
7R specialises in the collection and transportation of milk, water and other bulk food grade liquids, as well as gases.
Countrywide Hydrogen is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASX-listed company ReNu Energy (ASX: RNE) and develops renewable hydrogen projects in Australia and abroad where offtake opportunities and abundant renewable energy sources prevail.
