A new service station planned for Geelong, Victoria offering hydrogen refuelling and EV recharging in drive-through truck bays has been delayed until the second half of next year.
Viva Energy had announced in July 2022 that their New Energies Service Station was on track to open in late 2023.
However, a spokesperson for the company told Big Rigs that delivery of the project has been delayed because of “global demand for hydrogen refuelling equipment”.
The New Energies Service Station will be located on a part of the buffer land surrounding the Geelong Refinery, which is owned by Viva Energy, near the Princes Highway.
Viva Energy has purchased a 2.5MW electrolyser for the creation of green hydrogen, as well as a fast-fuelling hydrogen dispensing system capable of refuelling multiple vehicles at once.
The green hydrogen is to be generated using (grid-based) renewable energy and recycled water sourced from Barwon Water’s Northern Water Plant and renewable electricity.
The refuelling station will also include a 150kW electric vehicle charging facility.
The project includes a diverse group of industry partners: Toll Group, ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC), Cleanaway and Barwon Water, who have committed to seven of an initial fleet of 15 hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles that will be refuelled at the service station within the first two years.
These FCEVs include road freight, public transport, municipal waste management, water treatment and general fleet.
The service station and the deployment of 15 commercial hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles is expected to cost $43.3m.
The new service station is the first step in Viva Energy’s vision to establish Australia’s most ambitious hydrogen mobility project, which is expected to be the catalyst for a network of hydrogen refuelling stations reaching from Geelong and Melbourne to Sydney and Brisbane.