Element 2 is to construct a new hydrogen refuelling station at Teesside Airport, further its work to turn the Tees Valley into a hub for zero-emission transportation.

L-R: ULEMCo MD Amanda Lyne; transport secretary Mark Harper; Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen; IVe chief executive Ram Gokal; and Element 2 chief executive Tim Harper

The £4.1m project will see the high-volume hydrogen refuelling station go live in 2024 in a strategic alliance with the airport and Innervated Vehicle Engineering (IVe), supplying green hydrogen that could save 240,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

The hub will support a range of long-term trials of commercial vans, led by IVe, as well as additional passenger cars and airside support vehicles, led by Tees Valley Airport. The trials, conducted in tangible, commercial applications, will generate valuable performance data that will fuel further breakthroughs in hydrogen-powered transportation.

The new refuelling station is supported by a grant from Innovate UK, marking a hat trick of government support for Element 2 this year and a total funding boost of nearly £2.5m.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Hydrogen technology has great potential to decarbonise transport and help grow the economy.

“Today’s winners illustrate the expertise the Tees Valley has as a pioneer in developing hydrogen tech. This investment will provide a further boost to the economy, creating skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the North East.”

Tim Harper, CEO of Element 2, added: “Following on from our previous refuelling investments in Teesside, we are excited to be developing this hydrogen refuelling station in the region and taking real tangible action in the fight against climate change. The strategic location of Teesside Airport, with its proximity to key transport links and major freight depots, provides the perfect platform for this project.

“As we expand the hydrogen refuelling infrastructure throughout the UK, projects such as this empower fleet operators to gain proficiency in running zero-emission HGVs. We are looking forward to collaborating with an increasing number of fleets across the region.”

The hydrogen refuelling hub and vehicle trials also support Teesside Airport’s drive to become operationally net zero by 2030.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We were one of the first areas to trial hydrogen fuels and this is continuing to pay off as we’ve been successful in securing this permanent refuelling station.

“Our airport, and indeed our whole region, continues to be at the forefront of the UK’s net zero ambitions, and this hydrogen station is another step forward to supporting the cleaner, healthier and safer industries of tomorrow. It backs up everything we’re doing in our low-carbon journey, including supporting the production and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel – one of the biggest issues facing the industry right now.”

Other schemes being championed by the airport include the development and adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by the industry, while a study to establish a local green energy company, including setting up solar panels on land next to the runway, is underway.

Element 2 already operates five refuelling locations across the UK and is presently building two permanent refuelling stations along the M6 and A1(M) motorways. This year has also seen the company form a strategic partnership with fuel card provider Radius and its UK Fuels network to accelerate access to hydrogen across the UK. It’s also teamed up with commercial real-estate firm Tower Group to provide access to hydrogen for road transport in the south west of England.