A network of hydrogen fuelling stations will be built across London and the South East as part of a new government-backed initiative.

The three-year London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LHNE) project, co-funded by the Technology Strategy Board, will create a network of 700 bar fuelling stations.

Creating this network is important because the major car manufacturers have confirmed that the hydrogen vehicles available for purchase in the UK from 2014/15 require 700 bar fuelling systems. 

The LHNE project will upgrade the existing fuelling station located near Heathrow Airport to 700 bar and deliver a brand new fuelling station with this specification in London.

In addition, the project will increase accessibility to the dual pressure fuelling station at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, and the Transport for London station in Stratford.

LHNE will also deploy new hydrogen vehicles in London, including a number of Hyundai hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and Revolve hydrogen powered vans.

A consortium of companies, led by Air Products, will deliver the project.

The Commercial Group, a member of the consortium, will test the functionality of the network by operating a fleet of hydrogen vans.

Diana Raine, European business manager hydrogen energy at Air Products, said: “The LHNE project will bring together all the components necessary to make hydrogen transport possible across London and the South East as we prepare for the arrival in the UK of commercially available hydrogen vehicles.

“We hope that this project will act as an exciting demonstration model to be replicated across the UK and Europe in years to come.”

The LHNE project is one of five research and development projects selected by the Technology Strategy Board in 2012 to help accelerate the adoption of energy systems using hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, bringing them into everyday use.  

The Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority will play a supporting role in the project.

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