As the world looks to reduce CO2 emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources, hydrogen is emerging as a promising solution in the transportation sector. While electric batteries have taken the lead in passenger cars, hydrogen continues to hold a significant role in various modes of transport that require large payloads or long ranges.
Protium Green Solutions, the UK’s largest green hydrogen energy company, recognizes the potential of hydrogen in transportation. Rebecca Zeitlin, the Head of Communications and Marketing, highlights the areas where hydrogen fuel could be beneficial. Beyond passenger cars, hydrogen can revolutionize the trucking industry, construction machinery, trains, buses, and even aviation.
In the trucking industry, zero-emission trucks, including hydrogen fuel cell trucks, are gaining market share. However, infrastructure development is crucial to meet the growing demand for zero-emission vehicles. Protium emphasizes the need for proximity between hydrogen refueling infrastructure and production sites to reduce costs and carbon footprint.
One of Protium’s notable projects is the HyHAUL (Protium Hydrogen Aggregated UK Logistics) project. With grant funding from Innovate UK, HyHAUL aims to deploy hydrogen fuel cell HGVs along the M4 corridor, starting with 30 vehicles by 2026 and expanding to 300 vehicles by 2030. This project targets the UK’s heaviest and most polluting HGVs, offering zero-emission solutions.
HyHAUL integrates the entire value chain of long-distance hydrogen HGVs, from green hydrogen generation to logistics, refueling infrastructure, and fuel cell HGV manufacturers. By providing operational data and removing barriers to adoption, HyHAUL paves the way for broader industry acceptance.
Hydrogen’s potential extends beyond trucks to smaller vehicles with demanding jobs. Vans used by utility engineers, for example, require longer ranges and significant equipment payloads. In this context, fuel cell electric vans (FCEVs) outperform battery electric vans (BEVs). Protium is currently supporting trials of FCEV vans for utility engineers, showcasing hydrogen’s benefits in these fleet applications.
Aviation, notoriously challenging to decarbonize, is also exploring hydrogen as a potential solution. Hydrogen can be used as a direct fuel for propulsion or as a feedstock for synthetic fuels. Protium is actively collaborating with the aerospace sector through Project HEART (Hydrogen Enabled Aviation and Renewable Testing), which aims to develop a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure for safe refueling of hydrogen aircraft. By supporting early testing, Project HEART contributes to shaping future government policies in sustainable aviation.
As hydrogen continues to make strides in the transportation industry, it is essential to collaborate and invest in infrastructure development, vehicle trials, and technological advancements. Protium’s projects and partnerships demonstrate the commitment to providing real-world solutions and driving the adoption of hydrogen across various transportation sectors. Embracing hydrogen is a crucial step in the pursuit of a sustainable and low-carbon future for transportation.
FAQ: Hydrogen in Transportation
Q: What is the role of hydrogen in the transportation sector?
A: Hydrogen is emerging as a promising solution, especially for modes of transport that require large payloads or long ranges.
Q: What are some examples of transportation sectors where hydrogen fuel can be beneficial?
A: Hydrogen can revolutionize the trucking industry, construction machinery, trains, buses, and aviation.
Q: What is the market share of hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the trucking industry?
A: Zero-emission trucks, including hydrogen fuel cell trucks, are gaining market share.
Q: What is the importance of infrastructure development for zero-emission vehicles?
A: Infrastructure development is crucial to meet the growing demand for zero-emission vehicles.
Q: Can you provide an example of a project utilizing hydrogen fuel cell HGVs?
A: HyHAUL (Protium Hydrogen Aggregated UK Logistics) aims to deploy hydrogen fuel cell HGVs along the M4 corridor in the UK.
Q: How does HyHAUL contribute to the adoption of hydrogen HGVs?
A: HyHAUL integrates the entire value chain of long-distance hydrogen HGVs, providing operational data and removing barriers to adoption.
Q: In what types of vehicles does hydrogen outperform batteries?
A: In smaller vehicles with demanding jobs, such as utility engineer vans, fuel cell electric vans (FCEVs) outperform battery electric vans (BEVs).
Q: Can hydrogen be used in aviation?
A: Yes, hydrogen can be used as a direct fuel for propulsion or as a feedstock for synthetic fuels in aviation.
Q: How is Protium collaborating with the aerospace sector?
A: Protium is actively collaborating through Project HEART (Hydrogen Enabled Aviation and Renewable Testing) to develop a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure for safe refueling of hydrogen aircraft.
Q: What is the importance of collaboration and investment in hydrogen infrastructure and technology?
A: Collaboration and investment are crucial in advancing infrastructure development, vehicle trials, and technological advancements for hydrogen in transportation.
Definitions:
– Hydrogen: A chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. It is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas.
– CO2 emissions: Carbon dioxide emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels, contribute to climate change and global warming.
– Green hydrogen: Hydrogen that is produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power.
– Fuel cell: An electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (such as hydrogen) directly into electrical energy.
– Zero-emission vehicles: Vehicles that produce no tailpipe emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment.
– HGVs: Heavy Goods Vehicles, commonly known as trucks or lorries.
– Innovate UK: Innovate UK is the UK government’s innovation agency, supporting science and technology research and development.
– Synthetic fuels: Fuels produced from renewable or non-renewable resources through chemical processes, often used as alternatives to conventional fossil fuels.
– Sustainable aviation: The goal of reducing aviation’s carbon footprint and environmental impact through various measures, including the use of cleaner fuels and technologies.
Related links:
– Protium Green Solutions
– Innovate UK