Hydrogen Transport: Fuelling Gippsland’s Future

THE POTENTIAL of hydrogen transport within Gippsland is becoming greater with work underway exploring how this clean energy solution can be implemented across the region to enhance sustainability and economic growth. 

Veronica Quinless, TAFE Gippsland, Senior Strategic Advisor - Clean Energy, opened the discussion around hydrogen at last week’s Gippsland New Energy Conference, noting that hydrogen is very relevant for remote and regional areas from a fuel perspective because it has increased range compared to electric vehicles.

“There’s also much better infrastructure development and road mapping for actually providing sources and storage and distribution of hydrogen.”

This increased range of hydrogen together with fast 
fuelling offers enormous benefits, but also enormous challenges, but it is promising according to Veronica. 

“The renewable sector is quite a range of mix of technologies, so it’s not straightforward, it is complex, it is challenging, but it is very exciting,” said Veronica, who handed over to Bruce Connolly, Latrobe City Council, Manager Economic Investment and Transition.

Bruce explained that about two years ago, Swinburne University approached the Council with Textron Systems Australia, a big aviation company and the Victorian State government. 

They were scouting for places to undertake a trial of hydrogen and electric drones in various scenarios and carry out research and development.

Since then, the program has quickly developed and together they are looking at setting up an integrated and advanced air mobility precinct at the airport. 

Anybody developing a new aircraft that’s either hydrogen, fat or electric, must execute intensive evaluation and the airport is in a perfect position for companies to access. It’s close to Melbourne with land and infrastructure that lends itself well to a number of these projects. 

One example provided by Bruce was that an existing building has been designated as a launchpad for startups, with one currently operating out of there - Delta Aviation, who are developing a hydrogen propulsion system for an electric engine. 

In the meantime, Swinburne’s hydrogen-electric drone trials for commercial development of clean, zero emissions, uncrewed air systems had its first successful flight last year.

These continued developments in the Gippsland region present an opportunity for the surrounding communities to be part of the changing energy landscape and embrace the economic opportunity created by additional jobs. 

“There’s some really interesting things around freight movements where people can move freight, say from here to home without having to go for a huge drive. You can do it through the air,” explained Bruce.  

“It’s coming. It’s not here yet, but it’s coming. And the companies that are doing the research and the development at the moment are the ones who are going to enter the market pretty soon.”