Up to 10 per cent of South West vehicle fleets will be running on hydrogen by 2030

A new study commissioned by Hydrogen South West has explored the amount of hydrogen required to power commercial vehicle fleets in the region by 2030 and sets out an early blueprint for the location of the refuelling infrastructure which will need to be in place to meet this demand. 

The research was undertaken by multi-disciplinary professional services consulting firm WSP to ascertain the potential market demand for hydrogen as a transport fuel for utilities, logistics, freight and passenger fleets such as light goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches.

Findings suggest that by 2030, 7,000 of vehicles could be running on hydrogen within the region, requiring an indicative supply of up to 88 tonnes of hydrogen per day to support their operations. The most effective locations for refuelling stations are identified as Bristol, Bridgewater, Exeter, Plymouth and South West Cornwall.

Hydrogen South West is a partnership of leading businesses and innovators driving the development of hydrogen infrastructure across the region. Focusing on key sectors such as maritime, aviation and utilities, the consortium comprises leading companies easyJet, Airbus and Hynamics (EDF); consultants and engineers Costain and WSP; and regional leaders Bristol Port, Bristol Airport, Wessex Water and Wales and West Utilities.

Andy Clarke, Chair of Hydrogen South West and Director for Integrated Transport at Costain, said: “The decarbonisation needs of the South West are very different to those of the rest of England. This largely rural region relies heavily on its roads to get people, goods and services to where they need to be, and our members consistently report that the refuelling needs of their vehicle fleets, which are predominantly light goods vehicles, cannot be met by battery electric technology. This is due to a range of factors including journey pattern and length, payload and topography, challenges for which hydrogen is a far more effective solution.”

Stuart Cory, UK Sector Lead, Oil, Gas & Energy Transition at WSP said: “We are delighted to deliver this assessment for the role of hydrogen in support of low carbon land transportation in the region. By presenting a clear view of the potential regional demand, we hope this study provides both a baseline and the vital foundations to build from. Together with Hydrogen South West members, we’re now exploring the next steps to build on this assessment and support the development of an ecosystem that includes hydrogen refuelling clusters at strategic locations aligned to the existing M5-A38-A30 corridor and close to projects such as Dorset Green H2, Exeter H2 Hub, HyHaul and Langage Green.”