It’s only a few months until the UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, bringing global leaders together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In preparation, even more attention will be focused towards tackling the climate emergency, as the Government publishes additional decarbonisation strategies, and more local authorities re-evaluate their operations and commit to net zero.
A recently unveiled Government strategy was the world’s first ‘green print’ to decarbonise all modes of domestic transport by 2050, including road, shipping, flights and rail.
It was particularly encouraging to see a chapter dedicated to hydrogen’s role in a decarbonised transport system, which is definitely a step in the right direction. It is clear the Government is now backing renewable hydrogen as a fuel for decarbonising heavy-duty transport and that commitment was reinforced in the eagerly awaited Hydrogen Strategy. As expected, that document focused on the increased production of hydrogen and its use across the economy, including for transport.
But what does this all mean for local authorities, many of which are already working hard to consider how they can promote cleaner air in their areas and reduce their carbon emissions? One early win may be to consider using hydrogen to power their fleet, from refuse trucks to buses. Every litre of diesel converted into hydrogen would save CO2, so making the switch can play a key part in a decarbonisation strategy.
Another option could be battery powered electric vehicles, but these are not suitable for all heavy-duty routes yet, due to the weight and range of the batteries. The other challenge here is around the electricity infrastructure for charging; the required building or upgrading of the electricity network is expensive, and the length of time for charging can make the option unworkable. As a large proportion of our power generation network is still carbon-based, renewable hydrogen represents a true low-carbon fuel.
So, what can local government do to unlock this opportunity for its own fleets and, indeed, other vehicle users?
As the public sector starts to review its fleet and look towards decarbonisation, there is a real opportunity for local authorities to provide anchor points for hydrogen refuelling stations for heavy duty vehicles at key locations throughout the area – which can be accessed by other small businesses. If a local authority decides to convert its fleet into hydrogen vehicles, then it will need to ensure it has access to a hydrogen station. Why not allow that station to be used by others?
For example, if a local authority converts its refuse trucks into hydrogen vehicles and builds a refuelling station, then other local businesses could choose to decarbonise their own fleets because they are now able to share the local authority’s hydrogen infrastructure, without the large investment of building their own refuelling station or relocating. We have seen the benefits of sharing infrastructure ourselves, as our flagship hydrogen refuelling station at London Heathrow initially served London’s first hydrogen-fuelled black cab taxis at the London 2012 Olympic Games, but is now regularly used by couriers, taxis, police vehicles and buses, as well as the first hydrogen truck. It is a win-win situation which helps to improve local air quality too.
This has real potential for local authorities looking to decarbonise their local public transport too. As bus operators are choosing where to trial their technologies, it will be the authorities with decarbonisation high on their agendas who will encourage bus operators to switch to lower emission vehicles.
It is encouraging to see the Government committing to consulting on the modernisation of the Bus Service Operators’ Grant in 2021. This is a qualifying grant paid to eligible bus operators to help them recover some of their fuel costs – but now it will be applicable to hydrogen as well. This will encourage bus operators to convert their fleets to hydrogen and enable them to compete with other technologies on a level playing field.
Overall, the Decarbonising Transport Strategy is a positive step in supporting the transition to a hydrogen-powered future and provides local authorities with the chance to decarbonise their fleets, while also supporting the wider community with their own decarbonisation plans. It’s certainly exciting to see hydrogen power being talked about and used more frequently, a strong indication of accelerating progress to a cleaner future for our planet.
Manish Patel is hydrogen mobility and energy transition expert at Air Products
