Sites identified for UK hydrogen refuelling stations

First Hydrogen has identified four industrial sites in the UK for hydrogen refuelling stations, as part of its strategy and advancement of its Energy Division.

The sites are in industrial areas spread across the North and South and will each accommodate both a large refuelling station – for light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles with on-site hydrogen production.

The stations will serve the urban areas of Greater Liverpool, Greater Manchester, London area, and the Thames Estuary – and a larger hydrogen production site of between 20 and 40 megawatts, for a total for the four sites of between 80 megawatts and 160 megawatts.

First Hydrogen said it is advancing discussions with landowners to secure land rights and working with engineering consultants Ove Arup & Partners Limited (ARUP) for the engineering studies and designs of the sites.

Nicholas Wrigley, chairman of the First Hydrogen Group, said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that customers of hydrogen light commercial vehicles will also need to ensure a reliable supply of green hydrogen for their businesses.

“We have made significant progress in identifying and securing the first four sites which First Hydrogen will be using for both hydrogen production and distribution, and which we would expect will form part of the Government’s overall hydrogen strategy.”

It is anticipated that the target sites will qualify for government financial support for the development and construction phases to deliver capacity pursuant to the 10 gigawatt of domestic hydrogen production ambition, of which 5 gigawatts will be ‘green’, as recently announced in the Government’s UK Energy Security Strategy.

The production facilities, once built, will serve customers of First Hydrogen’s Automotive division.

First Hydrogen's green hydrogen van is to begin demonstrator testing in June with final delivery for road use in September 2022.

The company’s strategy is to secure a domestic supply of fixed-price long-term green hydrogen fuel and distribution arrangements, with such customers, which will form part of its offering to fleet operators of a full hydrogen mobility service for light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and supply First Hydrogen’s mobile Hydrogen refuelling stations with green hydrogen.

First Hydrogen expects to make further announcements regarding the advancement of projects as they develop.