Competition winners will trial hydrogen transport

Competition winners will deliver the UK’s first hydrogen transport trials in Tees Valley. 

Winners of the £2.5m Research & Development competition trial the use of hydrogen-powered transport to move goods and carry out local services. 

The government has also said that the trials will help us to understand the role that hydrogen can play in meeting our 2050 net-zero ambitions. 

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 his project will support fuel cell retrofit technologies in public transport across the UK. 

One of the most wide-ranging projects will see Toyota delivering a number of hydrogen vehicles, including a forklift truck for warehouse operations, a passenger bus and 10 passenger vehicles. 

In collaboration with Sainsbury’s, Element Energy will also be trialling a hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicle (HGV) in the Tees Valley area. 

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps 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 a cleaner, greener more efficient transport systems across the UK.’

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: ‘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% 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.’