Hydrogen fuel filling stations - When can we see them in the UK?
There are a small number of hydrogen fuel stations in the UK, producing and distributing pressurised hydrogen gas.
These innovative stations are able to produce green hydrogen on site, made from renewable energy.
The UK currently has 16 stations. Germany has the most stations (96) followed by France (21) and the Netherlands (14).
China is ranked first in the world for their refuelling infrastructure, with over 400 stations, with another 300 currently under construction.
Hydrogen cars are still in their infancy - there are currently around 300 vehicles on the road in the UK, but growth of the sector is rapid, with the UK government estimating up to 35% of the UK's energy consumption could be hydrogen by 2050.
Understanding Hydrogen Fuel
Hydrogen filling stations don’t look much different to traditional petrol stations; customers use a pump, which is attached to the vehicle's fuel tank, and it takes around 3-5 minutes to fill up a car.
The difference is only visible behind the scenes, unlike traditional refuelling stations that only store and distribute fossil fuels, refuelling stations are self-sufficient, producing their own fuel onsite from renewable energy.
Green hydrogen is the most environmentally friendly, when used the only byproduct is water, resulting in zero carbon emissions at the point of use.
Hydrogen possesses an exceptionally high energy density, making it a potent fuel for hard to decarbonise sectors such as transport, aviation and manufacturing. It is anticipated that hydrogen will be crucial for addressing the needs of energy-intensive sectors that may struggle with electrification.
The Need for Hydrogen Fuel Filling Stations
The UK Government aims to invest in the h2 infrastructure significantly by 2050, including the development of a network of refuelling stations for vehicles.
Currently, Motive is the UK’s largest network of green fuel stations, with 5 stations across Rotheram, Birmingham and Rainham.
These innovative stations are all self-contained, which means they can generate, dispense and store fuel at the station, rather than relying on regular deliveries.
It is produced using water electrolysis, which utilises renewable electricity and water. The water used to produce the hydrogen is tap water and rain water.
Aberdeen's Hydrogen Revolution: a decade of hydrogen buses
“Aberdeen has been at the forefront of hydrogen for over 10 years now, and as a local authority we want to make sure we can work with the public and private sectors together to really push forward with the hydrogen agenda” says Councillor Jenny Laing, Aberdeen City Council Leader.
The city has been an early adopter to help to decarbonise safely and reliably.
Kittybrewster, situated north of Aberdeen's city centre, stands out as one of the top-performing refuelling stations in Europe.
Open to all h2 vehicles, it has successfully attracted more than £20 million in investments for the city. Over four years, a fleet comprising 10 buses has remarkably reduced carbon dioxide emissions by over 1,000 tonnes, contributing significantly to the enhancement of air quality within the city.
“I love driving hydrogen buses, they are nice and quiet and comfortable. Feedback from passengers is unbelievable. They don’t have to shout when they are talking to me!” says Ron, a bus driver in Aberdeen.
Current Developments in the UK
In February 2024, the Government released its updated Hydrogen Net Zero Investment Roadmap which details investments in the sector that will be made by 2050, with over £170 million to be spent from the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio on hydrogen innovation.
Infrastructure Challenges
Hydrogen demonstrates huge potential for achieving the United Kingdom's ambitious net zero goals and fostering economic growth.
However, it is not without its challenges, including the task of expanding the current refilling infrastructure. The feasibility of consumers purchasing hydrogen vehicles relies on establishing a foundation of trust in the infrastructure and reducing costs.
Currently, the infrastructure faces challenges in terms of reliability, with Motive recently closing three of their stations, experiencing a lack of space for new equipment and space to accommodate larger vehicles. Motive explained; “We have invested over £2m per year to sustain our small stations but have taken the decision that it is not sustainable to continue to make this investment. We are focusing on large vehicle refuelling and the closure of these sites is a reflection of their small footprints from them being the first of a kind and prototypes which we have learned from, allowing us to improve our future network.”
Future Outlook for Hydrogen Fuel Filling Stations in the UK
The future of hydrogen vehicles in the UK looks positive, with commitments from the Government to upgrade the infrastructure and invest in hydrogen innovation. They have anticipated that up to 2 billion is needed by 2030 in infrastructure to enable growth of the UK hydrogen economy. The timeline estimates that by 2025 there should be a business model complete for the design of transport and storage which should clarify their plans further.
The net zero transition by 2050 will require multiple clean energy sources, storage technologies and upgrades to infrastructure. It will also need a rapid shift in consumer behaviour, encouraged by government policy and innovative solutions.
