Excerpt from "Urban Transport Pollution Reduction Proposal"-March 04 

DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

" The proposal targets pollution produced by our transport sector. The transport sector has long been known as a major source of pollution affecting our built and natural environments. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases as well are attributed to a large number of fatalities associated with such transportation pollution.

Freight transport by trucks is as well becoming a major factor within the transport sector as a serious contributor to transport sector pollution. Rail networks have been looked at for some time, and now are being looked at much more seriously as a sound mechanism to reduce pollution associated with freight. By example there is now a railway link to the Northern Territory from South Australia, and Bowports Intermodal Facility at Minto is designed to link to Melbourne directly in the near future.Beyond year 2010, locomotion should start to be powered by large fuel cell engines (1-1.5) MW, where freight by rail will then be zero (0) emission. The year 2010 is also a year that is “tipped” to see the mass production of fuel cell vehicles (FCV’s), and a general expansion in such technology universally so. So before the technology

of fuel cells begins to grow from year 2010 predominantly, we need a strong and logical interim option to reduce pollution within our transport sector now, that can co-exist with the new technology of hydrogen and fuel cells in the future. Another “Stepping Stone” is required but this time it is for the transport sector to reduce pollution.The proposal targets transport sector pollution by assessing firstly what real technology exists today which is relatively affordable, that can coexist with the future technologies of hydrogen and fuel cell s for at least the next thirty years or so.

Next the technology has to be accessible, cheap, and reduce pollution significantly. Further it must be reliable, safe, and have the ability to expand with the knowledge that it will not become obsolete before it reaches saturation point.  Such a technology is now before us and has been observed for a year and more, but the timing for Australia given its “awareness curve” is approaching rapidly. The political mood in Australia federally and in NSW is moving distinctly “green”. Many will say “well its about time”, and one cannot really blame such people for this attitude, as we have known the consequences of pollution for some time, yet we have taken time to acknowledge. Other societal factors as well generate awareness by example the hydrogen fuel cell bus trial in WA beginning in September 2004,and information access through the internet.

There are as well many programs within Australia set to reduce pollution. These are at federal and state levels. The Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) is a federal agency to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NSW has SEDA, and that is now under the Department of Energy and Utilities, whilst NSW as well is developing its own greenhouse gas abatement strategies in year 2004.

Natural gas powered vehicles are used by example in bus transit operations to reduce urban and city pollution. Councils are using these vehicles as well to show the way of the future. Natural gas blended with hydrogen (HCNG) to a ~20%v margin has been demonstrated to reduce pollution dramatically, over just using natural gas alone (CNG). California in the US is pursuing this strongly, and the Chinese have already started to import Cummins truck engines that are built to run on such a blend of methane/H2, so as to use the buses for urban and city transit pollution reduction. The Chinese as well would like a “Green” transport display for the year 2008 Olympic Games.

Proposal

The proposal is put forward by Solar Hydrogen Research Pty Ltd (Non-profit by constitution), and created and administered by HEC consulting.A hydrogen generator either by the process of the electrolysis of water, or by the processing of natural gas, so such hydrogen produced will be;

The above proposal in total was issued across Australia at ministerial level in ~mid-2004.It was again raised before the NSW state government in March 2005-awaiting response.The NHIA has again called for a demonstration fleet of FCV's,and a demonstration of fuel cell vehicles (buses) for the Commonwealth Games (Melbourne) in year 2006.Responses have been received as at December 2005.A hydrogen demonstration is too late as per the Minister for The Commonwealth Games,and NSW Department of Tansport were issued another (3rd) letter,to clearly indicate this time that a demonstration project is sought rather than changing over the infrastructure to hydrogen in the near term; awaiting 3rd response from the NSW Minister for Transport (Dec 05).

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