A plan to create a nationwide network of hydrogen refuelling stations is taking its first steps towards becoming a reality with the help of an £8 million UK government grant. The first station is expected to open early next year.

British start-up Element 2 will initially build four stations that will be publicly available to both HGV and car drivers. The government’s target for these stations is supermarket delivery trucks, but they will also be accessible to cars such as the Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Nexo, and BMW iX5 Hydrogen.

The pumps will be located in the north-east of England as part of the Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub, which is being developed with the government funding. The first station will open at Teesside International Airport to support another funding recipient, Ulemco, in developing hydrogen-powered airport vehicles.

Element 2 CEO Tim Harper has confirmed that 30 additional pump locations will be identified and have plans in place by the end of the year. The company is working with various forecourt operators and vehicle manufacturers. Last July, they announced their first two sites with planning permission approved at Coneygarth on the A1 and on the M6 near Carlisle.

“The strategy is to have the infrastructure in place before these vehicles arrive in numbers,” said Harper. “With this funding, we now have the confidence and know when it will happen.”

Harper also mentioned that funding for other stations has already been secured. Additionally, £300,000 of funding will be allocated to local colleges to support workforce training and talent development, further establishing the Tees Valley as a hub for hydrogen technology.

“Hydrogen technology has great potential to decarbonise transport and boost the economy,” said Transport Secretary Mark Harper. “Today’s winners demonstrate the expertise of the Tees Valley in developing hydrogen tech, which will create skilled jobs and apprenticeships in the North East.”