The project has been co-funded by leading transport and infrastructure companies and the European Commission’s Fuel Cell Hydrogen Joint Undertaking to trial and develop energy efficient transport solutions. 

At the conference, speakers claimed that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can present a real and viable alternative to those powered by petrol or diesel, offering zero emissions at the point of use. The consortium argued that in an urban environment the deployment of such technology can have a clear and demonstrable contribution to improved air quality and public health.

A key objective was to understand how best to develop infrastructure networks, including the rollout of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure around key cities. There was a particularly focus on strategic clustering to encourage the sustained growth of the hydrogen transport sector, and the consortium stressed the high importance of ongoing financial support for the extension of the hydrogen refuelling network.

“It’s a tremendously exciting time for hydrogen powered transport. The outcomes of HyTEC’s work really will set the future pathway for successful adoption and implementation. The learning from the HyTEC initiative will provide incredible confidence to Governments, investors, developers and energy providers to see that the future for hydrogen powered transport will become a reality,” said Dr Emma Guthrie, HyTEC project coordinator and UK business development manager, hydrogen energy systems at Air Products.