Teesside to host UK's first hydrogen transport hub, masterplan due Jan. 2021

London — Tees Valley -- formerly a center for petrochemicals and refining -- is to host the UK's first Hydrogen Transport Hub, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced Sept. 30.

The hub is to develop a masterplan by next January for the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel in buses, heavy goods vehicles, rail, maritime and aviation transport across the UK.

"Through our GBP23 million Hydrogen for Transport Programme, the plans announced today also include GBP6.3 million of funding for a green hydrogen refuelling station and 19 hydrogen-powered refuse vehicles in Glasgow," Shapps said.

Green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis of water using renewable power.

The Teesside center is also to conduct research into a hub for hydrogen transport more generally, Shapps said. The hub would recruit representatives from industry, government and academia.

Shapps was speaking as the UK's first hydrogen-powered train trials began in Warwickshire.

The HydroFLEX trials are being supported by the DfT and follow two years' development work by rolling stock company Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham.

The University of Birmingham was also developing a hydrogen and battery-powered module to be fitted underneath trains, freeing up carriage space.

Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, said the company intended to start producing HydroFLEX trains, "creating the world's first electric and hydrogen-powered bi-mode rolling stock."

In July the government made GBP350 million ($446 million) available to help businesses decarbonize, including support for 12 hydrogen projects, potentially cutting manufacturers' overall carbon emissions by 20% by 2030.

Projects funded included Net Zero Teesside, a carbon capture, utilisation and storage scheme, and an associated roadmap project for wider decarbonisation of Tees Valley businesses.