Emerald Coaches receive Queensland Government grant to fund hydrogen fuel cell buses in Bowen Basin

Miners and schoolchildren across Central Queensland will ride on buses fuelled by rainwater and sunshine as two new hydrogen fuel cell electric buses roll out in Emerald. Read the full details here.

Miners and schoolchildren across Central Queensland will ride on buses fuelled by rainwater and sunshine as two new hydrogen fuel cell electric buses roll out in Emerald next year, with the help of a Queensland Government grant.

The Emerald Coaches buses will be powered by green hydrogen, which will be produced locally from rainwater and sunshine.

A a 173kW solar canopy to shade buses at the company’s depot, and generate power for the hydrogen production.

The buses have been made in Australia and as of September last year Emerald Coaches released its emission zero strategy which is the first of its kind in the country, with plans to have zero emissions by 2040.

Emerald Coaches initially begun its operations with 30 buses and now has 120. In early 2014, Michael and Rachael Baulch purchased the business from Murray and Noela Berkman.

Its diesel-powered buses create 3,100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and take in more than 1 million litres of petrol annually.

Rachael Baulch, co-director of Emerald Coaches, said the company had been providing transport services for the past 40 years and hoped the decision to make the change from diesel to hydrogen would have a positive impact.

“By leading the way and being the first to commit to zero emissions, we are hoping to have a positive impact on our community and our team and encourage other business sectors to consider doing things differently,” Mrs Baulch said.

“There will be many opportunities to provide jobs and ongoing education in a completely new and innovative space, right here in Emerald.”

Emerald Coaches hopes to switch all of its vehicles over to hydrogen by 2040, and also intends to have 100 per cent renewable water and electricity in its facilities by 2025.

As well as have water saving mobile vehicle washing units, rain water systems, recycling, paperless offices and 100 per cent renewable power.

Michael Baulch, director of Emerald Coaches, with local schoolchildren boarding an Emerald Coaches bus.

Michael Baulch, co-director of Emerald Coaches, said one of benefits of the buses would be that they will upskill workers and create more jobs.

“The upskilling of our workforce and the potential upskilling of other industries within the area,” he said.

“We think that this will create opportunities in the hydrogen fuel cell area, as well as provide jobs within our workshop and others throughout Central Queensland.

“This Hydrogen Industry Development Fund means we’re now on the way to establishing a hydrogen bus fleet that can operate throughout the Central Highlands and Mackay regions.

The buses will have a 10 minute refuelling time and a longer range than battery electric buses.

The buses are being funded by a $2.7 million grant from the Queensland Government.

Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Minister Mick de Brenni noted the scale of the project.

“This is the HIDF’s largest investment so far in our growing hydrogen supply chain,” he said.

Labor candidate for Flynn, Matt Burnett, wants to support the diversification of the economy through industries such as hydrogen.

“This means more jobs in more industries. As the mayor of Gladstone, I’ve been supporting the diversification of our economy for 20 years and we’ve been supporting the hydrogen for a number of year as well,” Mr Burnett said.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey praised Emerald Coaches’ commitment to working towards using hydrogen fuel cell electric buses.

“The transport industry produces approximately 14 per cent of greenhouses emissions and this announcement is a great example of how the private sector can play an important role in seriously addressing the impact of climate change,” Mr Bailey said.