Dr Linda Wright, chief executive New Zealand Hydrogen Association, at the Seoul launch of Hyundai’s Fuel Cell Nexo, which travels 609km on a single fill that takes less than five minutes. 

Dr Linda Wright, chief executive New Zealand Hydrogen Association, at the Seoul launch of Hyundai’s Fuel Cell Nexo, which travels 609km on a single fill that takes less than five minutes. 

Dr Linda Wright, chief executive New Zealand Hydrogen Association, at the Seoul launch of Hyundai’s Fuel Cell Nexo, which travels 609km on a single fill that takes less than five minutes. 

The advancement of hydrogen energy as a low emission fuel source in New Zealand has taken a significant step forward today with the announcement by the association’s chairman, Michael Fulton, of the formation of the New Zealand Hydrogen Association,.

Fulton says the association was established with significant input and funding from a number of private sector companies, as well as seed funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

“The New Zealand Hydrogen Association grew out of a private sector consortium of companies that were progressing the use of hydrogen in New Zealand as a low emission fuel source”, he says.

“MBIE recognised the important leadership role the consortium was providing, and together we developed the concept of widening the scope to form an overarching body to support the progression and uptake of hydrogen energy in New Zealand.

“The New Zealand Hydrogen Association aims to support the use of New Zealand’s renewable energy resources to decarbonise our domestic energy needs and reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels.”

Mark Pickup, principal policy advisor at MBIE, says the Ministry sees the hydrogen economy as an exciting prospect for New Zealand, not only to reduce our own carbon emissions but also in developing the potential for a key export industry. 

Richard Lauder, CE of Real Journeys, one of the founding members of the association, says his company is looking forward to exploring the possibility of reducing carbon emissions by using renewable hydrogen for some of New Zealand’s most iconic tourism offerings.

“Our specially designed fleet of bullet coaches travel 1.3 million km each year between Queenstown and Milford Sound, and the prospect of low emission hydrogen fuel cell coaches running this route would put Real Journeys at the forefront of tourism globally,” he says. 

Brent Esler, chief executive of the HW Richardson Group says the formation of the Association is an important step forward for industry. “HW Richardson Group is one of New Zealand’s leading transport companies employing more than 2,500 people.  The group operates a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles in heavy transport, including businesses involved in fuel distribution and readymix concrete.  We believe hydrogen will become a critical part of our energy mix in the future. We are pleased to be a founding member,” he says.

Todd Spencer, head of commercial and new ventures at Contact Energy, says Contact Energy is delighted to be a founding member of the New Zealand Hydrogen Association. “Our company is always looking to the future and we see potential for hydrogen energy playing a significant role in a low emissions economy in New Zealand.  There is also strong potential for the development of renewable hydrogen exports using low carbon, locally produced electricity,” he says.

Michael Fulton says the New Zealand Hydrogen Association has appointed Dr Linda Wright as chief executive.

“Dr Wright has been the driving force behind the formation of the association from day one, as well as firstly forming the private sector consortium. She has the passion, commitment and skill-set to take the Association forward and deliver something of real enterprise and value to New Zealand businesses who are seeking to explore a low emissions future,” says Mr Fulton. “Membership is open to all businesses, organisations, individuals and academic institutions.”

Fulton, who is also the national development manager for Fulton Hogan, says his own company is currently evaluating the use of renewable hydrogen to replace the fossil fuels used in its day-to-day operations.  Fulton Hogan employs more than 7,500 people across the transport, infrastructure, water, energy, mining and land development sectors in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific, and is committed to being part of a low carbon economy”, he says.

The founding members of the association are Hyundai NZ, HW Richardson Group, Siemens (NZ), Green Cabs, Venture Southland, Real Journeys, Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds, Fulton Hogan and Contact Energy.

                                        

Magazine Issue:
Motor Equipment News November 2018