First Hydrogen, a London and Vancouver-based company focused on zero-emission vehicles and carbon dioxide extractor systems, has announced its strategy and road map for the advancement of its energy division.
First Hydrogen Energy has identified four industrial sites in the UK and is in discussion with landowners to secure land rights. It is also working with engineering consultants ARUP for the engineering studies and designs.
The company said the sites are all in prime industrial areas spread strategically across the North and South and will each accommodate a large refuelling station – for light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles with on-site hydrogen production. These sites would aim to serve the urban areas of Greater Liverpool, Greater Manchester, the London area, and the Thames Estuary.
A larger hydrogen production site is expected to produce between 20 and 40MW, with a total for the four sites of between 80MW and 160MW.
It is anticipated that the target sites will qualify for UK government financial support for both the development and construction phases to deliver capacity pursuant to the 10GW of domestic hydrogen production ambition. Of this 5GW 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, with its green hydrogen van to begin demonstrator testing in June and final delivery for road use is expected in September.
Additionally, the company’s strategy is to secure a domestic supply of fixed-price long-term green hydrogen fuel and distribution arrangements, with such customers. This will form part of its offering to fleet operators of a full hydrogen mobility service for light commercial vehicles and supply First Hydrogen’s mobile hydrogen refuelling stations with green hydrogen.
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.”
