Developing ‘Both Sides’ of the Hydrogen Equation
Like any fuel commodity, the hydrogen economy is a two sided marketplace: someone has to generate it, and someone else should consume it. The value chains on both sides of the equation are extremely complex, and commercial uses of hydrogen in the automotive sector require significant investments to scale-up operations on either-side, often without a commitment from the other-side. It’s the classic Chicken and Egg conundrum.
Zenogen is here to break the cycle by developing projects from both-sides. We have the expertise to deploy large-scale hydrogen generation infrastructure (using a variety of technologies) and we have relationships with major automotive OEMs to support their vehicles during their deployment to Australian roads. With in-house expertise in analysis, engineering, project management and capital raising, Zenogen is a one-stop-shop for large-scale hydrogen deployments in the automotive sector.
Project #1: 18 Refuse Trucks for a municipal Council in NSW
This project is presently subject to confidentiality, and will only be described generally.
A first-of-its kind in Australia to deploy Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (HFCEV) trucks for use in the municipal refuse collection sector. Given that clean (renewable) hydrogen is difficult to source locally, Zenogen will commission a hydrogen production plant (electrolyser) alongside the deployment of 18 trucks to provide the council a zero-emissions refuse-collection fleet.
The fleet (combined GVM over 400,000 kg) consumes over 420,000 litres of diesel and emits more than 1,125,000 kg CO2, annually. The council has enacted progressive strategies to mitigate carbon emissions while simultaneously supporting the establishment of local advanced manufacturing enterprises and is motivated to participate in this project to the fulfilment of these missions.
Deployment will occur in stages, incorporating an engineering phase, proof of concept phase and infrastructure deployment phase. As this project is a demonstration of pre-commercial technologies it is intrinsically not profitable, and will be supported via private investment, cost-support from technology vendors and supply-partners, and commitments from the council, and the federal and/or state governments and their agencies.
In summary, the project will deliver significant environmental and community benefits:
Reduced dependence of the council on fossil fuels and towards greater pricing stability of fleet operations
Reduction in vehicle maintenance activities and costs
Reduction in pollution levels (both noise pollution and vehicle emissions), and
Direct and indirect creation of sustainable, high skilled jobs in the respective local government area, and broader NSW.
Additionally, the project aligns strongly with the national and state hydrogen strategies in leveraging public funds to:
Incentivise growth of hydrogen hub demonstrations
Support efficient hydrogen hub supply chains
Promote hydrogen supply chains at scale
Promote internal collaboration for hydrogen projects
Develop hydrogen industry expertise
Drive hydrogen technology development
In order to:
Enable competitive domestic hydrogen technology markets with explicit public benefits, and
Progress domestic capabilities in hydrogen technology manufacture and deployment.
