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10 March 2019
eMag
Ports of Auckland:
Investing for a sustainable future
In a first for Auckland, Ports of Auckland
has committed to build a hydrogen
production and refuelling facility
at its Waitematā port. The company,
and project partners Auckland Council,
Auckland Transport and KiwiRail,
will invest in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
including port equipment, buses
and cars as part of the project.
Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony
Gibson says: "We have an ambitious
target to be a zero emission port by
2040. In order to meet that target we
need a new renewable and resilient
power source for heavy equipment like
tugs and straddle carriers, which are
difficult to power with batteries. Hydrogen
could be the solution for us as
it can be produced and stored on site,
allows rapid refuelling, and provides
greater range than batteries."
Ports of Auckland will fund the construction
of a facility which will produce
hydrogen from tap water. The process
uses electrolysis to split water into hydrogen
(which is then stored for later
use) and oxygen, which is released into
the air. Demonstration vehicles will be
able to fill up with hydrogen at the facility,
which will be just like filling up a car
with CNG or LPG. Hydrogen is used in
the fuel cell to create electricity which
powers the car. The only by-product of
the process is water.
"If this trial is successful, says Mr Gibson,
"the technology would have a very
wide application. It could help Auckland
and New Zealand towards energy
self-sufficiency and our emission
reduction goals. Trucks, trains and
ferries could also run on hydrogen –
something which is already being done
overseas – which would be a significant
benefit for the community. Hydrogen
powered vehicles are quieter and emit
nothing more than clean water."
The project partners will provide technical
support and will purchase hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles for the project.
Global hydrogen experts Arup are also
helping support this project through
the development, design and delivery
phases.
Mayor Phil Goff says, "I welcome this
trial. It is a first for New Zealand and
shows Auckland's desire to lead on
climate change action and meet our
ambitious emissions reduction targets.
"With 40% of emissions in Auckland
coming from our transport system, alternative
energy sources to power vehicles,
such as electric and hydrogen,
are critical to meeting the target of
global warming to 1.5 degrees.
"With infrastructure in place, hydrogen
has the potential to power our buses
and other parts of our vehicle fleet both
reducing global emissions and cutting
back on air pollution in Auckland such
as in Queen Street where carbon levels
are very high," says Mayor Phil Goff.
Auckland Council's chief executive,
Stephen Town, says, "We're proud to
collaborate with the Ports of Auckland,
Auckland Transport and KiwiRail on this
innovative hydrogen project – a first for
New Zealand. It is important for organisations
like ours, as signatories to the
Climate Leaders Coalition, to continue
leading on climate change action;
it's also important for us to push the
boundaries with ambitious projects
that demonstrate leadership here in
Auckland. Trialling new technology
to reduce emissions and signalling a
smarter economic future is important
for our city's people, places and prosperity."
KiwiRail Acting ceo Todd Moyle says
KiwiRail is delighted to be part of this
ground-breaking project. "KiwiRail is
committed to a sustainable future and
has set a goal to be carbon neutral by
2050. While rail is an inherently sustainable
form of transport with 66% fewer
carbon emissions than heavy road
freight, new fuel sources like hydrogen
have enormous potential for the future
of transport in New Zealand.
"Just weeks ago, two hydrogen-powered
trains with a range of 1000km
per tank began operating commercial
services in Germany. If successful with
passengers, there is no reason why the
next development could not be hydrogen
powered freight trains.
"Joining forces with Ports of Auckland
in this project will allow us to explore
how KiwiRail could use this new technology
as we deliver stronger connections
for New Zealand."
Auckland Transport chief executive
Shane Ellison says AT is committed to
clean technology and is very interested
in the possibilities of hydrogen power.
"This could be part of the answer for
our fleet of buses and harbour ferries.
The idea of a vehicle which only produces
water as a by-product is very
exciting."
The project is currently in the planning
phase, and Ports of Auckland is about
to start stakeholder engagement before
applying for resource consent in
early 2019. The facility is planned to be
operational by the end of 2019.
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