Geelong New Energies Service Station Project (Project reclassified as Operating)

June 19th, 2025

Geelong New Energies Service Station Project

Viva Energy has constructed and is operating a publicly accessible service station that offers hydrogen refuelling and drive through, truck sized, ultra-fast electric vehicle charging for heavy fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEV) in Geelong, Victoria.

Main proponents:

Viva Energy Australia

 Main end-use classification:

Hydrogen mobility

 Status:

Operating – launched in June 2025, the site is fully operational, with onsite hydrogen generation, hydrogen refuelling at two pressures, diesel, AdBlue and ultra-fast EV charging.

 Estimated cost:

AUD$61.2 million – includes the New Energies Service Station (renewable hydrogen and EV infrastructure) and the deployment of up to 15 commercial hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles
Other involvement:

 

 Production details:

Site incorporates a 2.5-megawatt (MW) PEM electrolyser with a generation capacity of up to 1,000 kilograms (kgs) hydrogen per day.

 Location:

Victoria, Australia

 Announced funding:

AUD$34 million – Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

AUD$1 million – Victorian Government – Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund

Project description

The Viva Energy Hub (project name – New Energies Service Station) has the capability to dispense renewable hydrogen in commercial quantities and refuel a fleet of heavy FCEVs. The project includes a diverse group of industry partners who will operate up to 15 hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles that will be refuelled at the service station. These FCEVs include road freight (Toll Group), public transport (ComfortDelGro Australia), municipal waste management (Cleanaway), water treatment (Barwon Water) and general fleet.

The Viva Energy Hub incorporates a 2.5 MW PEM electrolyser along with hydrogen compression, storage and dispensing infrastructure. The renewables-based hydrogen is to be generated using (grid-based) renewable energy and recycled water sourced from Barwon Water’s Northern Water Plant and renewable electricity. The refuelling station also includes four plugs of 350kW electric vehicle charging facility in two, truck sized, drive through bays.

The first 5 FCEV trucks and buses are expected to commence regular operations in July 2025 and are all in country and have been filled multiple times to date.

The New Energies Service Station is located on a part of the vacant land surrounding the Geelong Refinery, proximate to the Princes Highway, which is owned by Viva Energy.  The site is within an existing industrial zone with access to electrical infrastructure and recycled water from the nearby Barwon Water Northern Water Plant.

The project is supported by a AUD$34 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program. The Victorian Government also contributed AUD$1 million to the project via the Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund.

ARENA’s funding incorporates:

  • Support for the development and construction of Viva Energy’s service station, renewable hydrogen and EV infrastructure.
  • Subsidisation of the purchase and operation of up to 15 hydrogen heavy FCEVs.

The New Energies Service Station (renewable hydrogen and EV infrastructure) and the deployment of up to 15 commercial hydrogen FCEVs is estimated to cost AUD$61.2 million.

Viva Energy has announced that foundation partners deploying vehicles in the first year of the project include:

  • Toll Group – hydrogen-powered prime mover/s deployed for the delivery of liquid fuels from Viva Energy’s Geelong Refinery
  • ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia – two hydrogen-powered buses for use on Geelong city commuter bus routes
  • Cleanaway – two hydrogen-powered waste management vehicles for municipal waste collection in the Greater Geelong region
  • Barwon Water – one hydrogen-powered prime mover for the collection of organic waste for recycling

Development approval was received in January 2024; site construction commenced in the second quarter of 2024 and the hydrogen refuelling station was launched in June 2025.

In July 2022:

  • Air Liquide announced that it would supply Viva Energy Australia with a hydrogen refuelling station for its Geelong project.
  • NEL announced that it would be supplying Viva Energy Australia with the 2.5 MW (PEM) electrolyser.

More information about the project can be found at:  Hydrogen Refuelling in Australia – Viva Energy Australia.

 

Reviewed (reviewed by the project proponent): June 2025