Solar project shows hydrogen transport viability and affordability

The GBV fuel cell electric truck, supplied by TR Group for Booths Logistics

A new solar farm in Ruakākā is setting new standards for sustainable transport and construction, demonstrating New Zealand’s transition to renewable energy like never before.  

The Hiringa/MyFarm solar farm has utilised hydrogen fuel cell electric (FCEV) trucks, fuelled by zero-emission green hydrogen, to transport solar panels from Auckland to site. Using FCEVs rather than diesel trucks prevents up to 10 tonnes of CO₂ emissions entering the atmosphere for a negligible impact on the cost of the project.   

Hiringa co-founder and chair Cathy Clennett believes it’s a first-of-its-kind in APAC for a renewable energy project. 

"This is New Zealand’s energy transition in action. It’s happening now. The trucks are here, the technology is available, and this is a really good use case for how simple and practical green hydrogen is for heavy transport. There’s no reason why every project in New Zealand can’t be doing this,” she said. 

“We have a really exciting opportunity to raise the bar on how we can reduce emissions across the full supply chain of projects and products, which is particularly valuable for businesses that distinguish themselves on their sustainability profile,” she said. 

Booths Logistics took care of all the in-country transport and logistics requirements for the project and were only too happy to use hydrogen powered trucks to transport the solar panels to site.  

Using a fuel cell truck rather than diesel added just 0.1% to the total cost of the solar farm project. 

The hydrogen powered trucks were supplied by TR Group and added just 5% to the cost of the transport compared to the cost of a diesel truck. That equates to less than 0.1% extra cost for the project as a whole.  

Ultra-fast refuelling times at the Hiringa green hydrogen refuelling station at Wiri in South Auckland helped to ensure transport ran to schedule. Refuelling took between 15-20 minutes each time, with the truck completing the return leg to Ruakākā twice a day over a three week period. 

“From a transport perspective, the gold standard for any decarbonisation technology is to reduce emissions without impacting productivity. This truck has performed similarly to a diesel equivalent, just without the emissions,” Clennett says. 

MyFarm CEO Andrew Watters says with hydrogen transport available, it’s a no brainer for projects that are all about reducing emissions. 

“The Ruakākā solar farm and the delivery of the solar panels on a hydrogen-fuelled rig are a real-world demonstration of how a company can transition to sustainable energy and transport. When operational, electricity generated from the solar farm will be used to produce the green hydrogen that fuels these trucks, so it’s great to see the full cycle in action.  

“The commercial pay-off also makes sense - we’re able to decarbonise more of the supply chain during construction and still deliver a project with solid returns for our investors.” 

“Developing solar and hydrogen production capabilities also helps to address New Zealand’s precarious energy security position,” Cathy Clennett adds. 

“New Zealand is reliant on imported petrol and diesel, making us vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions, price shocks and geopolitical conflicts. By enabling a transition to sovereign clean energy production, this project helps to future-proof New Zealand’s energy sector, creating domestic production, reliable supply chains and price stability.”