A pilot plant supplying hydrogen fuel for vehicles could be built in Exeter by 2026, as revealed by the Exeter H2 Hub consortium. This consortium, which is behind the plans, aims to supply fuel for vehicles owned by utility companies, councils, and the public. They plan to apply for government support to make hydrogen refuelling a reality for the region. Hydrogen developer, Tower Group, has emphasised the need for more investment in hydrogen infrastructure in the UK. Alex King, CEO of Tower Group, which is leading the consortium, stated that to truly level up the country and deliver on net zero promises, efforts must be accelerated to bring investment and jobs to areas in need. This pilot project is seen as a step towards this goal, with more initiatives to follow.

The company also plans to build a hydrogen production plant in North Devon to supply fuel for clean energy marine vessels. The Exeter consortium includes Wales & West Utilities (WWU), the University of Exeter’s Centre for Future Clean Mobility, and clean vehicle innovator, EMotive, among others. While the exact location of the proposed plant is currently confidential, it is indicated to be adjacent to Exeter Airport. The plans will be submitted to East Devon District Council shortly.

WWU, which maintains 1,300 vehicles in its fleet, expects that half of these could require hydrogen to meet net zero targets. Stephen Offley, WWU fleet manager, believes hydrogen will soon become the most operationally satisfactory zero-emission solution for high energy demand vans. Consequently, WWU plans to deploy hydrogen-fuelled vans at the earliest practicable opportunity, initially in smaller clusters operating within a convenient radius of the hydrogen refuelling location.

There are also plans to run a pilot project at the plant with Cullompton-based EMotive, investigating opportunities to retrofit existing fleets with hydrogen combustion engines or fuel cell electric powertrains. Initially, five to ten of WWU’s vehicles will be used, but if the pilot is successful, the facility could be used to retrofit and maintain thousands of vans and larger vehicles in the region. Dan Regan, managing director of EMotive, highlighted that the company has been working on clean commercial vehicle designs for over five years. He stated that this project will significantly improve air quality, promote more sustainable industries, and position the South West as a leader in greener transport and energy systems.

More information can be found on BBC News.