Element 2 has today (21 October 2021) signed a contract to supply hydrogen and refuelling infrastructure to one of the UK’s most ambitious hydrogen projects, the Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub.
Element 2 is supporting the ambitions of the Department for Transport and Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) as a major hydrogen hub in the UK’s energy transition. Working with the TVCA, Department for Transport and Innovate UK, Element 2 has been awarded the contract to supply sustainable hydrogen across the region. This will provide operational insight into capability, capacity and functionality of modes of transport which are solely powered by sustainable hydrogen. The project also aims to test business models and user operating needs to inform future large-scale trials or commercially sustainable operations.
Working with their engineering partner Logan Energy, Element 2 will be facilitating trials led by Ricardo UK, Toyota, Ulemco, Arcola Energy Ltd, HV Systems and Element Energy among others. The applications range from HGV transport, buses, airport vehicles and emergency service vehicles. These trial are part of a managed research and development programme funded by Department for Transport and delivered through InnovateUK.
Tim Harper, CEO of Element 2, commented:
“Element 2 will be powering the Department for Transport and Tees Valley Combined Authority’s ambitions to be a global leader in hydrogen by supplying both the fuel and the refuelling infrastructure. The Tees Valley region has long been an industrial and chemicals powerhouse, and we will be supporting the vision of the region in transitioning to a clean energy hub.”
Trudy Harrison, Transport Minister, said:
“Today’s announcement is an exciting step forward towards establishing the UK’s very first hydrogen transport hub, paving the way for economic growth and green jobs in the region and propelling us towards our net-zero goals.
“With less than two weeks to go until COP26, we’re committed to backing innovative technologies to decarbonise our transport system and I very much look forward to seeing these trials rolled out.”
Mayor Houchen from the Tees Valley Combined Authority said:
“From offshore wind manufacturing, carbon capture, utilization and storage and hydrogen, make no mistake Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are at the forefront of powering forward the UK’s clean energy ambitions.
“Our region already produces more than 50 per cent of the UK’s hydrogen so it was an obvious choice for the Government to set up the UK’s first Hydrogen Transport Hub in Teesside so we can properly utilise this and fully unleash our area’s potential.”
“Growing the clean energy sector across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool is a key part of my plan for jobs, a plan that is delivering the clean, high-skilled, well-paid jobs which are essential for our future.
David Tozer, Head of Land Transport, InnovateUK said:
“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Element2 to support the green hydrogen supply to this challenge. These transport demonstrators will provide important research into the hydrogen use-case and the interaction of the vehicles with their environment. They will also be making longer term plans to scale demand as part of the longer term planning of the Tees Valley Transport Hydrogen Hub.”
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