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https://theconversation.com/hope-or-hype-nz-needs-to-be-realistic-about-the-clean-energy-potential-of-green-hydrogen-234137>
"The recent failure of a deal to deliver hydrogen-powered trucks to New
Zealand, and the removal of a NZ$100 million government rebate scheme for green
hydrogen users in the 2024 budget, make a transition to the much-lauded energy
technology increasingly less certain.
The government had invested $6.5 million for the purchase of up to 25 heavy
freight hydrogen trucks as part of a wider energy strategy due by the end of
the year. But the US company Hyzon, which makes hydrogen fuel-cell trucks and
had been modifying diesel trucks to use hydrogen, pulled out at short notice.
Nonetheless, interest in hydrogen for future transport and energy systems has
soared globally, and New Zealand is no exception. But we argue that critical
voices have been largely missing from the debate here.
In New Zealand, green hydrogen (which is produced with electricity from
renewable sources) has attracted government support of $186.3 million from 2017
to 2023. This provided funding for a hydrogen refuelling network, vehicle
conversions and purchases, research, and the establishment of the New Zealand
Hydrogen Council (now Hydrogen New Zealand).
Proponents of green hydrogen argue it is essential for fuelling economic
sectors they believe will be hard to decarbonise by direct electrification. As
well as heavy road transport, this includes shipping and fertiliser production.
But opinions differ considerably on which sectors to focus on, and whether
hydrogen is the best choice."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
