The states of Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales are entering into a landmark collaboration to build a new hydrogen superhighway connecting the east coast.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the three States, a hydrogen refuelling network will be built for freight vehicles on the Hume Highway, Pacific Highway and Newell Highway.
This initiative aims to service heavy transport and logistics vehicles running along the east and to reduce emissions and provide better fuel security for Australia.
“Transport is the fastest growing sector for emissions and ironically it could also be the key to reducing them, said Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni.
“Transport applications are one of the most economic uses of hydrogen, where it is already competitive with diesel on a cost-of-fuel basis,” Mr. Brenni added
Meanwhile, NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean emphasized the importance of the hydrogen refuelling network for decarbonizing the heavy transport industry.
“Renewable hydrogen will increasingly become a competitive zero emissions fuel option for our heavy transport sector, giving our trucking industry the opportunity to decarbonise their fleets,” Mr Kean said.
“The governments of NSW, Victoria and Queensland are signing Memorandums of Understanding for the refuelling corridors, starting with the Hume Highway, the Pacific Highway and the Newell Highway.”
On the other hand, Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio expressed the hydrogen superhighway’s role in bolstering the economy.
“The renewable hydrogen highway will create new jobs, drive investment across the east coast and is a landmark step towards meeting Victoria’s target to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“This historic collaboration between Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland will revolutionise Australia’s busiest freight corridor, lighting a pathway to a zero-emissions transport sector.”