Cash and carry wholesaler JW Filshill is exploring the potential of using green hydrogen and electrification to decarbonise its commercial vehicle fleet.

JW Filshill could save an estimated 1,100 tonnes of CO2 from roads by switching to green hydrogen for its CV fleet

The company owns the Keystore brand – one of the most recognised convenience store brands in Scotland – and its fleet serves more than 1,400 delivered goods customers, including over 210 Keystore convenience stores across Scotland and the north of England.

It’s now signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ScottishPower to investigate green energy solutions; analysis shows this could save the firm an estimated 1,100 tonnes of CO2 from roads.

Keith Geddes, chief financial and operating officer at the company, said: “Filshill continues to work towards reducing our carbon footprint and reaching our goal of becoming net zero. As a delivered wholesale business our fleet of vehicles make up a large proportion of our carbon footprint, therefore exploring options such as using hydrogen instead of diesel are extremely important to us.”

Green hydrogen is when renewable electricity is used to produce hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen – it’s the only zero-carbon way of producing hydrogen and is a core focus for ScottishPower, which launched its green hydrogen business in 2020.

The energy company is now working with a number of businesses to explore how green hydrogen can be used, alongside other green energy solutions such as renewable electricity, to decarbonise operations.

Barry Carruthers, hydrogen director at ScottishPower, said: “Green hydrogen offers companies like JW Filshill a zero-carbon fuel alternative that can support their business over the long-term.

“It’s an exciting time for green hydrogen as more and more businesses begin to realise the potential green hydrogen can offer them and we’re looking forward to working with JW Filshill over the coming months to see how best it can support their company well into the future.”