A Green Window of Opportunity
HyQube refuelling two Toyota Mirai
Much has been written in the last few weeks that alongside the havoc wreaked by the coronavirus, it has also presented us with an opportunity. The pandemic has shown us a way to mitigate environmental disaster.
Six months ago, we would have thought it impossible for UK road traffic to reduce by 70% and air traffic by 90% – and for this to happen overnight. As a result, CO2 emissions have seen a drop of 8% since the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK. Nitrogen dioxide emissions, mainly from vehicles, were reduced by up to 60% in major cities and that this will save thousands of people a year from an early death. These findings highlight not only how quickly we can make positive change, but also what longer-term measures taken today could do to combat environmental disaster in years to come.
This news leaves us with a small window of opportunity. Figures show that this same reduced rate of emissions will be required every year to meet the government’s 2050 target of net zero emissions.
According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, air pollution in China has climbed back to pre-pandemic levels, and scientists say Europe may follow.
So governments and business alike are grappling with the concept of “Building Back Better” and adapting this established disaster recovery principle to address the pressing environmental emergency of the 21st century.
Prior to the pandemic, the UK government had committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 and it was acknowledged that decarbonising transport is one of the key levers in effecting real change. Transport currently accounts for around 26% of the UK’s total greenhouse gases.
Last year’s report from the CCC in May 2019 advised “By 2035 at the latest all new cars and vans should be electric (or use a low-carbon alternative such as hydrogen)” In its most recent report to the government in June 2020, the CCC asserts that this can be achieved by 2032.
As a result of last year’s report, the UK government adopted the 2035 target to phase out production of new petrol and diesel vehicles in favour of electric vehicles. This includes, hybrids, battery electric, and fuel cell electric vehicles.
The report went on to identify the role hydrogen needs to play in this. “The difference [between existing targets and net zero] is striking. Low-carbon hydrogen moves from being a useful option to a key enabler. Updates to policy……should reflect that”.
However, whilst there has been some investment in projects for battery electric vehicles there has been much less support for fuel cell electric vehicles. From 2018-21 government is investing £23 million in hydrogen and fuel cells via the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) compared with £246 million directed specifically into battery technology in 2019.
As we emerge from lock down, countries around the globe are beginning to set priorities for a Green recovery. The German government has announced measures including €7bn for new hydrogen projects, €2bn for green auto innovations, €2.5bn for EV charging infrastructure, €2.5bn for public transport improvements and €1bn each for green aviation and shipping programmes. The role to be played by transport and hydrogen is clear in their thinking.
Here in the UK, Rishi Sunak has hinted that his interim budget later in the summer will address a green economic recovery, and Boris Johnson has called for “a greener, cleaner and more resilient future” but there is little detail so far about what this means in practice.
CCC Chair, Lord Debden, comments on the opportunity, “the global crisis of climate change is accelerating. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address these urgent challenges together; it’s there for the taking.”
In the transport sector, we at Fuel Cell Systems Ltd (FCSL) would like to see a fairer distribution of investment and support in the battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicle markets.
Hydrogen fuel cell passenger vehicles are available from an increasing number of well-known Automotive Manufacturers, such as Toyota and Hyundai.
Electric drivetrains powered by hydrogen fuel cells have a longer range than their battery equivalents, and a fill time comparable with petrol and diesel, making them ideal for heavier vehicles and fleet operations.
Yet despite this, there are very few on UK roads.
A key hurdle – and one which could be addressed by government – is the lack of a workable refuelling infrastructure. There are currently 11 public hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK – nowhere near enough for an average motorist to consider running a fuel cell vehicle. This is a very different picture to other parts of the world. In California for example there are 6,300 hydrogen fuel cell cars. They can refuel at 39 locations, with another 25 currently in development. California aims to have 200 refuelling stations by 2025 and 1,000 stations by 2030.
In the absence of a viable refuelling network, FCSL has responded by developing a range of lower cost, mobile refuelling solutions, that are easy to transport and commission and are enabling manufacturers and operators alike to roll out hydrogen fuel cell products.
FCSL has successfully delivered solutions to refuel scooters, cars and trains. We have helped to accelerate research, development and promotional activities that would not have been possible were it not for the availability of our innovative refuelling solutions. After implementing a hydrogen refuelling solution for AA breakdown recovery vehicles, we have spent the last twelve months supporting a University of Birmingham project to deliver the UK’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered train (HydroFlex) and are currently completing the development of a solution for EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre) that will fuel the first hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft (HyFlyer), due to enter trials in the UK later this year.
We have recently completed development of our latest product, HyQube, an affordable, redeployable system which can be used to refuel a whole range of vehicles.
We know that efforts across all industries and sectors are required to continue the positive environmental progression we have seen throughout the pandemic. We are now in the process of developing a new range of cost-effective, transportable and scalable solutions that will help to break down barriers further and accelerate the uptake of hydrogen as a viable fuel in the UK and further afield.