A consortium of companies – including ITM Power, Shell, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai – has won £8.8m (US$12.4m) of funding from the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) to improve access to an expanded network of hydrogen fueling stations. ITM will receive £4.3m (US$6.1m) of the funding to build four new hydrogen refueling stations and upgrade five existing stations to increase capacity. The project will receive additional funding support from the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU).
The funding grant from DfT will also see nearly 200 new hydrogen-powered police cars and taxis introduced.
“Decarbonizing our roads is an essential part of meeting our climate targets,” says UK Roads Minister, Jesse Norman. “The innovative new technologies involved present great opportunities for our increasingly low-carbon economy.
“Hydrogen has huge potential, especially for those making longer journeys and clocking up high mileage. That is what makes this project truly exciting. Not only is it demonstrating the technology in action, but it is also developing the refueling infrastructure needed for the future.”
New refueling stations will be built in Southwark, Isleworth, Birmingham and Derby, with further expansion expected.
“This project will deliver the largest expansion of the hydrogen refueling infrastructure ever undertaken in the UK and is a very significant step forward for the UK hydrogen industry,” adds Graham Cooley, CEO, ITM Power. “The project will fund ITM Power to build four new hydrogen refueling stations and upgrade five further stations. Our partnership with Shell, Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai constitutes a highly coordinated roll-out of hydrogen vehicles and refueling infrastructure.”
“This is a result of close collaboration across sectors and a significant vote of confidence from the government in the benefits of fuel cell technology,” says Paul Van der Burgh, president and managing director of Toyota GB. “The program is welcome support in our efforts to popularize FCEVs and help realize a hydrogen-based society.”
“Hydrogen has the potential to become a significant part of the transport mix in a low-carbon future,” adds Oliver Bishop, general manager of hydrogen at Shell. “Central to this success is collaboration between the government, energy companies, OEMs and technology experts to create the infrastructure to make access to new fuel options viable. At Shell, we are delighted to be part of the latest infrastructure funding effort, and to help drive forward the UK’s hydrogen refueling network.”
