Representing a first in public transport for Tasmania as part of Metro’s Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) trial, the project was backed by the government through Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania.
The buses, which will use locally produced hydrogen, are expected to operate on a variety of Metro’s Hobart routes, collecting data and insights on the fuel cell-powered vehicles’ performance in Tasmania’s climate and terrain.
Partner H2H Energy is set to refuel the vehicles using its H2Core technology – a containerised refuelling station capable of dispensing hydrogen at 35 or 70 MPa.
H2 View understands that the green hydrogen will be supplied by project partner Blue Economy CRC, which opened Tasmania’s first small-scale production plant earlier this year.
Blue Economy’s Hobart facility will produce 262kg of hydrogen per day, which is reportedly enough to power two 22-metre fuel cell ferries carrying 75 passengers each for a full day of operation.
“This trial is proving what’s possible when Australian-made technology meets Tasmania’s world-class renewable energy resources,” H2H Energy stated on LinkedIn.
While passenger hydrogen mobility has slowed, heavy-duty transport is emerging as the frontrunner, with buses, trucks, and trains offering long range and rapid refuelling
Speaking to H2 View, Rob Castien, CEO of Resato Hydrogen Technology, said that hydrogen-powered buses in particular will dominate near-term demand for hydrogen refuelling.
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