Hydrogen transport pilots in the Tees Valley area will
establish the UK as a leader in the technology and propel us
towards our net zero goals, Transport Secretary has said today (17 August), as he unveiled the
winners of a £2.5m R&D competition.
The successful trials will lead to supermarkets, emergency
services and delivery companies using hydrogen-powered
transport to move goods and carry out local services.
The trials will also help us to understand the role hydrogen
has in meeting our 2050 net zero ambitions, which will inform
our future investment decisions and prime export opportunities.
In collaboration with Stagecoach, Ricardo PLC will retrofit a
double decker diesel bus with a hybrid fuel cell system. The
bus will be driven on local routes and learnings from this
project will support fuel cell retrofit technologies in public
transport across the UK.
One of the most wide-ranging projects sees Toyota delivering a
number of hydrogen vehicles, including a forklift truck for
warehouse operations, a passenger bus, and ten fuel cell
passenger cars. These will be deployed across the town’s rapid
response services, such as emergency response units for the
Cleveland Police and NHS patient support.
HV Systems plan to demonstrate the use of hydrogen in delivery
vans in the Tees Valley area. The vans will be operated in
collaboration with a leading supermarket chain, running between
19 superstores and their main distribution centre. The project
aims to show how delivery vans fitted with fuel cells can have
increased range, faster refuelling times than battery electric
versions and speed parity with conventional diesel vehicles.
In collaboration with Sainsbury’s, Element Energy will also be
trialling a hydrogen-powered HGV in the Tees Valley area. The
vehicle will be operated from a local distribution centre and
will be carrying out goods deliveries in the area.
Transport Secretary
said:
“With less than 100 days to go until COP26, I’m committed to
supporting industry to develop innovative new technologies
that will decarbonise transport, helping us to build back
greener and level up the country.
“By harnessing the power of hydrogen technology, we can pave
the way for its use across all transport modes, creating
cleaner, greener more efficient transport systems across the
UK.”
This announcement comes weeks after the launch of Government’s
Transport Decarbonisation Plan, a world-leading ‘greenprint’
that sets out a credible path for the UK to achieve net zero
emissions by 2050 and lead the world in tackling climate
change.
The funding follows the unveiling of an official “Masterplan”
for the UK’s first ever hydrogen transport hub, which could be
fully operational by 2025 – helping to create up to 5,000 new
jobs in the North East over the long-term as we continue to
level up the economy.
Tees Valley Mayor said:
“Through trialling the use of hydrogen in transport across
Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool, we are spearheading the
path to a greener future by developing the knowledge and
expertise needed to roll hydrogen out as a fuel source across
the country.
“In Teesside we already produce 50 percent of the UK’s
hydrogen, so there is no better place for this research to
take place.
“This new investment shows how Teesside is leading the way in
the drive for the UK to be net-zero by 2050, creating
good-quality, well paid, clean energy jobs in the process.”
David Tozer, Head of Land and Maritime Transport,
Innovate UK, said:
“Innovate UK is pleased to support these innovative projects
across the Tees Valley in partnership with the Department of
Transport. Deploying hydrogen vehicles and vessels at scale
and showcasing the UK’s long-term aspirations in this space,
is essential in delivering UK commitments to
decarbonisation.”
