Transport is the Western Bay’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, so the opening of a green hydrogen refuelling station in the Tauriko Business Estate later this year is positive news. 

The Hiringa hydrogen refuelling station will share a forecourt with Waitomo Group on Kaweroa Drive, in a growing network of stations around New Zealand.  

How hydrogen works

Hiringa’s refuelling stations don’t just dispense hydrogen fuel – they make it. Renewable energy (such as wind and solar) is used to split water into oxygen and hydrogen on site via electrolysis, then the hydrogen is compressed for storage. This results in ‘green hydrogen’, which has very low to no emissions.

Hydrogen is dispensed into vehicles in much the same way as petrol or diesel. Hydrogen vehicles can be 100% powered by hydrogen and emit nothing more than water vapour. 

Hiringa’s refuelling stations are designed specifically for hydrogen trucks, rather than cars, because hydrogen is seen as being particularly effective at decarbonising heavy transport. Hydrogen is a like-for-like replacement for diesel that allows trucking companies to operate as they usually would, just without the diesel emissions. 

This means transport operators can meet the ever-increasing demand for productivity, while also achieving sustainability goals. Hydrogen allows them to cut carbon, not capacity. 

Above: Hiringa’s hydrogen refuelling station is currently being built.

The refuelling process

When the Tauriko refuelling station officially opens later this year, it will become the fourth in Hiringa’s national network, along with South Auckland, Hamilton and Palmerston North. This gives transport operators coverage of 95% of North Island road freight routes, including concentrated coverage of the Golden Triangle of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, where 42% of New Zealand’s freight happens.  

It makes hydrogen transport even more viable for transport operators, with plans for at least 20 more refuelling stations in the works between now and 2030. 

Refuelling is not unlike the process for filling up any other vehicle. Drivers simply connect the nozzle to the fuel tank, pull the trigger and push a button to start fuelling. It only takes 15-20 minutes to refuel most trucks – similar to the time it takes to top up a diesel truck.  

Safety standards

Just like petrol, diesel or any other combustion fuel, there are strict safety standards for hydrogen equipment and processes. Hiringa’s hydrogen technology is designed and certified to international hydrogen and pressure equipment standards. Independent experts have modelled and approved the safety profile of equipment, even after it’s been certified.    

Hiringa’s overall approach to health, safety, environment and quality processes has been voluntarily audited, and all recommendations have been addressed and signed off by the auditor.   

In the same way that thousands of people around New Zealand visit refuelling stations and fill their vehicles with liquid fuel every day without thinking twice about it, refuelling a hydrogen truck is a fairly routine experience.  

We will share more about the Tauranga station opening closer to the time. To keep up to date with this story as well as other key energy issues in Tauranga, sign up for our fortnightly e-newsletter.  

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