A new network of 800 hydrogen fuel stations will spread across the UK as part of a strategic partnership agreed by H2 Green and Element 2.
The two companies announced they are pairing up to accelerate the creation of the first UK-wide hydrogen network, with H2 Green, a subsidiary of Getech Group PLC (LON:GTC), supplying the green hydrogen to Element 2, a privately owned hydrogen fuel retailer with major private equity backing.
Element 2, where former Liberal Democrat leader and Shell’s chief economist Vince Cable joined the board earlier this year, now aims to bring forward its plans for a network of 800 hydrogen refuelling pumps to 2027, and aims to have 2,000 in place by 2030, which would be enough to serve around 10% of the UK’s expected demand as heavy goods and municipal fleets switch over to hydrogen fuel cell power.
“Our refuelling network will be ready for demand,” said Element 2 chief executive Tim Harper.
H2 Green is currently scouting for hundreds of locations across Britain for their suitability to become ‘city hydrogen hubs’ as part of its planned development of a hydrogen production, storage, wholesale and retail network.
Under the agreement, Element 2 will become an off-take partner of H2 Green’s hydrogen and will also have an option to co-locate hydrogen refuelling stations at the H2 Green’s hubs, with H2 Green also having the option to instal hydrogen hubs near to Element 2’s refuelling stations.
Element 2 will partner with H2 Green for up to 30 hydrogen refuelling stations utilising green hydrogen at H2 Green sites.
The two companies will also utilise location analytics created by Getech Group to analyse efficiencies for the benefit of both companies’ customers.
Luke Johnson, managing director of H2Green, said the company believes the development of hydrogen hubs “will be a crucial component of our cities’ plans to decarbonise and meet their net zero targets. Collaboration and efficient deployment are however absolutely critical in making this a reality.”