ITM opens seventh hydrogen fuelling station

Energy firm ITM Power has opened its seventh publicly-accessible hydrogen refuelling station at a site near Swindon along the M4 corridor.

The station is located at Johnson Matthey’s fuel cell manufacturing site and is open to public and private fleets operating fuel cell electric vehicles. It uses electricity via a renewable energy contract and water to generate hydrogen on-site with no need for deliveries.

ITM Power’s hydrogen refuelling station at Johnson Matthey, Swindon

The station joins ITM’s existing network which includes sites at Cobham on the M25, Beaconsfield on the M40, Rainham in Essex on the A13, Teddington in London, Rotherham on the M1 and Kirkwall in Orkney. The opening of the new site is being supported by Toyota, Hyundai and Honda.

The new HRS is the first of two stations in the UK to be deployed as part of the pan European H2ME2 project, which was funded by the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU) and the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

A further station to be deployed by ITM Power under H2ME1 will be located at Gatwick Airport and will be opened before the end of the year, the company says.

Partners

Commenting on the opening of the site, Dr Graham Cooley, chief executive if ITM Power, said: “We are extremely pleased to have launched our seventh hydrogen refuelling station. ITM Power is grateful for the co-operation of our H2ME2 partners and for the funding support of FCHJU and OLEV.

“We are again collaborating with local stakeholders to develop a significant FCEV fleet around the new station.”

Tony Whitehorn, President and chief executive of Hyundai Motor UK, added: “As the demand for zero emission vehicles of all types is increasing at a rapid rate, it’s imperative that the necessary infrastructure is deployed at a pace that matches.

“For Hyundai, the opening of the seventh station from ITM shows a clear and timely commitment to hydrogen deployment from both the public and private sector as we prepare for the imminent UK launch of NEXO, our next generation fuel cell electric vehicle.”