New report to accelerate Australia's hydrogen-powered transport future

The ‘Hydrogen vehicle refuelling infrastructure’ report released by CSIRO and GHD sets out the opportunities and challenges for refuelling hydrogen-powered road vehicles in Australia.

Battery electric vehicles are currently the leading means of decarbonising road transport. However, with their shorter refuelling times and payload maximisation, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are expected to play a significant role with heavy duty and linehaul freight transport.

The ‘Hydrogen vehicle refuelling infrastructure’ report provides insight into the opportunities and challenges for the deployment of refuelling stations for hydrogen-powered road vehicles in Australia, with particular regard to fuel cell electric vehicles FCEVs. 

Our report identifies priorities for action, including areas that would benefit from targeted research and innovation.

Overseas jurisdictions like Germany, Japan, California, South Korea, and China are leading in the establishment of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) for FCEVs. Together, they set up around 600 HRSs, constituting over 80 percent of global HRSs, that service nearly 50,000 FCEVs. 

The progress in these areas is attributed to government support, strategic partnerships, financial incentives, and the development of regulations and standards for project clarity. This international experience emphasises that how hydrogen is produced and distributed to HRSs affects station features, costs, and environmental benefits. Factors like geography, local resources, demand, government goals, and industry objectives shape station designs. Various HRS designs have emerged, including on-site and off-site hydrogen production, standalone facilities, and additions to existing refueling locations. 

CSIRO’s chief scientist, Professor Bronwyn Fox, said Australia needs to urgently decarbonise its transport sector, which currently accounts for 18.6 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions, if the country is to meet its net zero commitments. Heavy vehicles are a key contributor to these emissions.

“While we know hydrogen will play a critical role, we also know that much of the key infrastructure for storing, moving and distributing hydrogen for use as a transport fuel – including pipelines, storage tanks and refuelling stations - is yet to be built,” Professor Fox said.

“That’s why this report is so important. It identifies priorities for action, including areas that would benefit from targeted research and innovation.”

The report compared the different hydrogen storage and dispensing options available, and evaluated refuelling infrastructure options based on fuel demand and distance from the hydrogen source.

It found that while all Australian hydrogen refuelling stations currently have onsite hydrogen production, we will need to move to centralised offsite production and distribution of hydrogen in order to refuel vehicles at scale.

Shawn Wolfe, Executive Advisor at GHD Advisory and one of the lead authors of the report, said Australia currently has only five hydrogen refuelling stations in operation, with 20 planned or under construction.

“The pace of the transition to hydrogen-powered transport is moving a lot faster internationally than in Australia,” Mr Wolfe said.

“Companies like Daimler and Ampol are not hedging their bets - it's a hydrogen and electric transport future.

“We need to get into lockstep or risk being left behind.”

Ed Cassano, Technical Director at GHD and author of the report added “The technology for hydrogen powered vehicles is developing rapidly, positioning them to meet the demands of both commercial and passenger transport. Australia must now meet the challenge for the widespread availability of hydrogen as a transport fuel.”

Dr. Patrick Hartley, Leader of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Industry Mission, said research is happening at every point of the hydrogen supply chain, from hydrogen production through to storage, distribution and ultimately utilisation technologies like fuel cells.

“Australia is unique in terms of our size and sparse distribution of population, so finding ways to make hydrogen available across the continent will be a key enabler,” Dr Hartley said.

“This report will help regulators and industry stakeholders understand where they can best focus their activities and progress their plans to develop infrastructure for hydrogen-powered transport.”

Download the report, Hydrogen vehicle refuelling infrastructure – priorities and opportunities for Australia.