New Plymouth-based green hydrogen developer Hiringa Energy has landed its first electrolyser, compressor and chiller units as part of its nationwide hydrogen network project.

The equipment was delivered to fuel retailer Waitomo Group’s Te Rapa site, who is partnering with Hiringa to develop the network, a first for New Zealand.

Hiringa said its teams are busy with installation and connection of the equipment.

“It is a fantastic milestone and we are looking forward to commissioning the first of our four hydrogen refuelling stations soon,” the company said in a statement.

The site will be the first of four high-capacity green hydrogen refuelling stations to fuel cell electric trucks and buses.

It will form part of a nationwide refuelling network to help the decarbonisation of the heavy transport sector.

The initial phase represents a total investment of $50 million to install the stations in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, and Palmerston North.

The project received $16m from the previous Government’s Covid-19 Recovery Fund and growth capital from key investors including Sir Stephen Tindall’s K1W1 fund, and international investments from Asia and North America.

The uptake of vehicles is being facilitated by TR Group, New Zealand’s largest heavy vehicle fleet owner, with government funding support through a $6m investment in the purchase of the first 20 FCEV trucks.

TR Group will own and lease the trucks to several leading logistics companies and their end customers as foundation participants in the project.