The first hydrogen-fuelled vehicles to be powered by the new Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub have arrived at Teesside International Airport, as part of a £2.5m region-wide trial.
The airport, along with other organisations, is testing out 100% zero-emission hydrogen-powered commercial and support vehicles.
Hydrogen infrastructure firm Element 2 has set up the station to provide fuel for two Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell cars and a forklift, which have recently arrived at the site. A Kangoo hydrogen-powered light van and a hydrogen tug are expected to arrive by May.
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, said: “The trial of these vehicles and refuelling station is just one of many ground-breaking hydrogen initiatives taking part across Teesside, Hartlepool and Darlington right now, to understand its potential and pave the way for the cleaner, safer and healthier industries of the future.
“By proving these vehicles are efficient, easy to use and safe in a wide range of applications, we’re putting our region at the forefront of the hydrogen revolution – while showing that our airport is much more than flights to Alicante.
“I want our airport to be the first hydrogen-ready airport in the UK, helping to boost our low-carbon credentials even further. It was only a few weeks ago, too, that we heard two local businesses – Nova Pangea Technologies and Alfanar Energy – were leading research into sustainable aviation fuels in a government-backed scheme to develop a plane powered by liquid hydrogen. Together, this all demonstrates the real potential of the sector and how it can help create the good-quality well-paid jobs of tomorrow.”
Additionally, Toyota is deploying a number of hydrogen vehicles across the region’s rapid response services, such as emergency response units for the Cleveland Police and NHS patient support, which can also take advantage of the new refuelling infrastructure.
Northern Gas Networks, which is testing hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas in households in the region, also relies on a hydrogen vehicle. Until the launch of the new refuelling station at Teesside Airport the nearest place hydrogen vehicles could refuel was nearly 100 miles away in Rotherham.
Read more: Teesside Airport pilots UK-first hydrogen transport trial
