The high-capacity green hydrogen fuelling station will be situated adjacent to the Palmerston North airport and will contribute to what Andrew Clennett, CEO of Hiringa Energy, claims will be, “One of the first refuelling networks for heavy transport in the world.”

The following three sites located in Hamilton, Tauriko and Auckland, will create a North Island network which will be able to service more than 95% of New Zealand’s heavy freight routes.

Following more than NZ$50m ($32m) of investment into the first phase of the project, there are plans to expand the refuelling network into the South Island of the country in 2023.

Plans are also in place for 24 high-capacity refuelling stations to come online within the next four to five years, H2 View understands.

To help create initial demand for the hydrogen refuelling network, a fleet of 20 zero-emission hydrogen-powered trucks, developed by Hyzon, will be deployed having been purchased by TR Group.

These trucks are said to be built to meet New Zealand regulations and the demanding road conditions and will be capable of over 600km of range between refuelling stops.

Financial backing for the project has been provided through investment from Hiringa’s Strategic Alliance partners, Mitsui and Co (Asia-Pacific), Government funding from EECA and the COVID-19 Recovery Fund, as well as growth capital from key investors.

Jimmy Ormsby, Managing Director of Waitamo Group, said, “Adding low-emission alternative fuel solutions to our network is a no-brainer. We want to leave a legacy for the next generation of Ormsby’s to continue in our footsteps. The exciting opportunities that green hydrogen technology offers allows us to deliver on that.”