Shares in clean fuel specialist ITM Power plc (LON:ITM) raced up 6% after the group said it had opened its second hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) in Rainham on the Thames Gateway.
The site is the first of its kind using solar energy from a solar photovoltaic array at the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) just off the A13 linking City Airport and the M25.
It will make renewable hydrogen on-site and is the second of three UK stations to be deployed as part of the pan European HyFive project.
Under this plan, there will be 65 more stations across London and beyond by 2020.
Before the station opening, which was supported by automotive equipment manufacturers, there was a hydrogen rally, which saw industry commentators become the first to make the 186 mile drive from a wind hydrogen station in Yorkshire to the refuelling station.
A second rally travelled from ITM Power's hydrogen station in Teddington, West London to CEME highlighting zero emission driving across the capital's low emission zone.
In all, 11 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) took part, provided by Toyota, Hyundai and Symbio FCell Renault and vehicle owners JCB, Anglo American, Johnson Matthey, Green Tomato Cars and ITM Power.
Green Tomato's MD Julia Thomas said: "We are delighted to have another hydrogen fuel station open to support our small fleet of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. We have found the stations easy to use and our customers really enjoy riding in a hydrogen vehicle producing zero emissions."
Dr Graham Cooley, ITM's chief executive, added: "The hydrogen rally was a great way of demonstrating the benefits of these vehicles for both longer commutes and throughout the city."
The station is the group’s third public access hydrogen refuelling station.
ITM Power shares gained 5.88% to stand at 22.5p.