Heavy transport fleet de-carbonising with hydrogen

A new partnership is helping one of New Zealand’s largest heavy transport fleets decarbonise with hydrogen technology. New Zealand transport company H.W. Richardson (HWR) is partnering with Christchurch-based zero emissions technology firm Fabrum on the initiative.

Fabrum is developing and deploying an end-to-end scalable hydrogen refuelling solution for HWR to enable fleet-ready access to hydrogen. It will help HWR’s plans to have ten dual-fuel hydrogen diesel trucks on the road by the second quarter of 2023.

Fabrum is developing the first green hydrogen production system for HWR for its Southland site using a 1.1-megawatt membrane-free electrolyser combined with its cryogenic technologies in a containerised system for decentralised point-of-use refuelling. The system can produce 450kg of hydrogen per day from water.

The technology, which enables gas separation and liquefaction, combined with patented technology from UK company Clean Power Hydrogen (CPH2) – splits water into pure hydrogen and medical grade oxygen. Fabrum will also supply hydrogen storage technology that integrates with compression and dispensing technology to enable an end-to-end solution of production through to dispensing of hydrogen gas.

HWR has been trialling dual-fuel hydrogen technology for its truck fleets since late 2021, enabling a low-carbon transition. Dual-fuel technology diesel engines can replace up to 40% of the diesel with hydrogen – resulting in a 40% reduction in emissions without power loss.

HWR chief executive Anthony Jones says Fabrum is a key part of the project “as their world-leading solutions enable hydrogen production capability on-site and on-demand. As HWR rolls out dual-fuel technology and its hydrogen refuelling network across New Zealand, Fabrum’s ability to scale to grow with us means this alternative fuel source will be a solution for the entire heavy transport industry,” Jones says.

HWR, which owns the Allied Petroleum network of around 110 fuel stops across New Zealand from Stewart Island to Karikari Peninsula, has options to buy further electrolyser and hydrogen storage systems from Fabrum for new and existing refuelling sites.

“We can use our fuel network to distribute hydrogen as an alternative fuel not just for our fleet, but to help the heavy transport industry as a whole by removing barriers to accessing ready hydrogen fuel,” Jones adds.

Fabrum chief executive Ojas Mahapatra says the team is excited to be working with HWR on a zero-emission transport future with green hydrogen technologies. “As one of New Zealand’s largest companies, HWR can action big change that impacts its emissions and provides a sustainability and decarbonisation blueprint for heavy transport.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen a surge in demand for our hydrogen solutions, driven by increasing decarbonisation and energy security challenges,” Mahapatra says.

Photo: HWR chief executive Anthony Jones

Source: transporttalk