Hydrogen will help UK to achieve net zero goals

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I’ve touched on hydrogen a few times in this column as a power source that will become more important in the near future. Now that hydrogen can be produced by splitting water using renewable energy, its carbon footprint is negligible and it comes without the environmental damage that can come from the extraction of lithium for batteries. The UK Hydrogen Strategy estimates that to meet Net Zero aims by 2050, hydrogen will have to make up 20-35% of the country’s energy demand (250-460 TWh a year). That is a quite significant proportion of the nations energy. So what is the UK government doing to ensure that the implementation of this vital part of our energy supply is successful? A recent report from the UK Hydrogen Champion asks the same question. The report also looked for greater clarity on upcoming policy decisions, available funding and the delivery of a hydrogen roadmap to 2030 and beyond.

According to Harsh Pershad, Head of Hydrogen at Tevva, transport will have a critical role to play in the UK’s decarbonisation goals. Globally, around a fifth of CO2 emissions comes from trucks, and both McKinsey and the Hydrogen Council believe that the most best use of hydrogen would be in the decarbonising of the UK’s haulage fleet. To cut CO2 emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, trucks that are powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells will need to make up the vast majority of new sales by 2040. However, only around 700 trucks that run on batteries or fuel cells were sold in Europe last year - about 0.2% of the total.

Pershad says that the economics of owning and operating electric and hydrogen trucks are improving with respect to the total cost of ownership. Diesel truck prices are also set to increase as Euro 7 comes into effect, which will also make hydrogen powered vehicles more attractive. For this to happen, some challenges need to be overcome, such as the lack of hydrogen refuelling stations. The majority of fleet operators have no experience of hydrogen, and hydrogen suppliers having no experience of truck fleets. UK company, Element 2 is currently working on the first of these problems by installing a network of refuelling stations in place. The stations will be roughly 100 miles distant from each other, giving haulage companies some degree of confidence.

The UK does have a supportive and growing hydrogen ecosystem with many public bodies, companies, universities, and others building hydrogen capabilities and strategies. However, the experience of individual organisations and maturity of cross-industry collaboration in dealing with hydrogen systems is typically much lower than for traditional fossil fuel systems. According to Pershad, short term early adopters need more support to overcome the limited infrastructure and complexity of supply chains, higher unit costs, and long or uncertain lead times for hydrogen products and services.

Pershad’s company Tevva is one of those early adopters. Tevva showcased its concept prototype 7.5t and 19t hydrogen electric trucks at the IAA in Hanover last year. In January it took the 7.5t prototype on a ‘border run’ to Berwick-on-Tweed, England’s northernmost town. On the way up it stopped at an Element 2 refuelling station in Teesside, and the return journey saw it cover almost 350 miles without needing to stop. This was made possible by the truck’s hydrogen fuel cell which tops up the range-extended vehicle’s lithium battery when needed.

If the UK is to meet its Net Zero goals, the haulage industry will need to be transformed. Innovative companies, like Tevva will be vital to its success. Hopefully the government listens to its need for support.