The Hydrogen Transport in European Cities (HyTEC) consortium presented results from its four year initiative to develop demonstration projects for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. HyTEC aims to explore how the technology can be rolled out across Europe.
The outputs from HyTEC will inform Governments and cities across Europe on what the key considerations are when looking to implement a Hydrogen transport infrastructure. This will ensure a greater understanding of what this technology can achieve and will play an important role in the future adoption of the burgeoning hydrogen energy market.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are a real and viable alternative to those powered by petrol or diesel, offering zero emissions at the point of use. In an urban environment the deployment of such technology can have a clear and demonstrable contribution to improved air quality and public health. There is currently an acute focus on the deployment of zero emission transport for cities. The work of HyTEC will provide improved confidence in the use of fuel cell technology solutions to improve air quality.
HyTEC is co-funded by leading transport and infrastructure companies and the European Commission’s Fuel Cell Hydrogen Joint Undertaking to trial and develop energy efficient transport solutions. It was set up to create new European hydrogen passenger vehicle deployment centres in London and Copenhagen and also to link the new and existing fuel cell vehicle demonstration projects across Europe, including a small fleet of passenger cars deployed in Oslo.
A key objective was to understand how best to develop infrastructure networks, including the rollout of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure around key cities. There was a particularly focus on strategic clustering to encourage the sustained growth of the hydrogen transport sector. This is especially important as it expands and enters an early commercialisation phase across Europe.
“It’s a tremendously exciting time for hydrogen powered transport. The outcomes of HyTEC’s work really will set the future pathway for successful adoption and implementation. The learning from the HyTEC initiative will provide incredible confidence to Governments, investors, developers and energy providers to see that the future for hydrogen powered transport will become a reality”, said Dr. Emma Guthrie, HyTEC project Coordinator and UK Business Development Manager, Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products.
Matthew Pencharz, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said: “This is a huge step forward for a newly developing industry that will have a massive impact on reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality through switching to a cleaner alternative for transport. HyTEC has now given us tangible results on how infrastructure needs to be developed in tandem with the promotion of hydrogen cars.”