The Tasmanian Transport Association (TTA) has announced a collaboration with Australian renewable hydrogen project developer Countrywide Hydrogen in what is a significant move towards decarbonising the state’s long-haul freight sector.
The collaboration agreement was signed at the TTA’s 2024 Tasmanian Transport Industry State Conference, and will facilitate the availability of alternative fuels at a price point competitive with diesel for Tasmanian road transport operators in the future.
The TTA is the peak industry body for freight transport in Tasmania, and the agreement is the first of its kind to be executed by a peak industry body in Australia.
Countrywide Hydrogen Managing Director Geoff Drucker says the agreement is a testament to the future of alternative fuels in Australia’s heavy vehicle sector.
“The economic case for hydrogen for heavy transport is very clear. Today, hydrogen-powered trucks deliver similar or better performance than diesel in terms of power output, torque, payload, refuelling time, range, and whole-of-life operating costs, but with no emissions,” Drucker says.
“Thanks to the support from the Tasmanian Government, hydrogen is set to be cheaper than diesel and plans are well underway for a network of hydrogen production and refuelling hubs in Tasmania to realise the transition from diesel to zero-emission hydrogen.”
TTA Chairman John de Bruyn says the collaboration is a significant step towards the continued decarbonisation efforts of the state’s road transport industry.
“This collaboration with Countrywide Hydrogen is part of our strategic objective to support our members to be engaged, well informed, and to help drive that agenda,” de Bruyn says.
“TTA is the first Australian peak transport association to execute such an agreement complementing Tasmania being the first state to have a hydrogen highway.”
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