H2ME funding initiative aids boost to UK Hydrogen infrastructure

The first 'under the canopy’ Hydrogen refuelling station has opened in Beaconsfield, London on 27 March 2018.  Led by Shell and supplied by ITM Power, the project has been part-funded by the H2ME initiative; European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), and the UK’s Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). 

The station is situated at one of the UK’s busiest service stations, Shell Beaconsfield on the M40.  This is the first site in the UK to bring hydrogen under the same canopy as petrol and diesel, providing drivers with a range of fuel choices to co-exist with traditional transport fuels. The hydrogen is generated on-site using an electrolyser that requires only water and electricity to generate the hydrogen gas.  Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles convert hydrogen into electricity to power the engine and produce only heat and water when driven. They can travel up to 700 kilometres on a single tank and can be refuelled in a few minutes.  The station opening and inclusion of hydrogen fuel alongside petrol and diesel makes significant inroads into the use of hydrogen as a convenient and accessible transport fuel.

The hydrogen station at Shell Beaconsfield is the fifth hydrogen refuelling site in the UK to be supplied by ITM Power and will be the first to be opened as part of the H2ME project. FCH JU Executive Director Bart Biebuyck said: “The FCH JU is proud to see its support significantly boosting market entry of hydrogen technologies for clean mobility. The opening of this new station at the Beaconsfield forecourt proves that hydrogen is now even more the fuel of the future, and is ready to offer an everyday green solution to citizens. We need to continue building on these achievements, and enable the transition towards a low-carbon transport system.”

UK Roads Minister, Jesse Norman commented: “This is an exciting example of how innovative technologies are helping the Government’s Future of Mobility Grand Challenge – contributing towards meeting our climate targets, while supporting the UK’s low-carbon economy.

“Hydrogen has the potential to play a vital role in decarbonising transport, so the unveiling of the UK’s first integrated hydrogen refuelling station is an important step forward.”