LONDON (Alliance News) - ITM Power PLC Wednesday said it plans to open the first of five hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK next week as the company begins to roll-out its clean fuel stations in collaboration with a series of partners and supporters.
ITM will release five hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK during 2016, three in partnership with Toyota, Hyundai, Honda and Symbio FCell under the HyFive project, which is part funded by the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and the UK's Office for Low Emission vehicles.
The other two stations will be launched later this year under a different scheme called Hydrogen Mobility Europe, which is also part-funded by the same European and UK bodies funding the other stations.
The first station will be opened next Tuesday at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington close to the A316 and A308 trunk roads. When the station is opened, Symbio FCell will also release the first of their 700 bar hydrogen fuel cell range extender Kangoo vans.
"This exciting development sees the introduction of ultra - low emission commercial vans that can operate up to a range of 275 miles. This addresses the critical need for clean emission deliveries and logistics services undertaking operations within London's Low Emission Zone," said ITM Power.
"Together with its partners, ITM Power will offer the integrated package of zero emission commercial vehicles, on-site fuel and after-sales support for UK commercial fleet operators," the company added.
The second station will be launched in the Centre of Engineering & Manufacturing Excellece situated on the A13 in Rainham, close to both Canary Wharf and the M25. The third unit will be based on a Royal Dutch Shell PLC forecourt. Both those stations will be launched in the summer of 2016.
The other two stations have sites chosen and planning permission secured. To date ITM Power has had 16 UK hydrogen refuelling station planning applications approved from 10 different local authorities, the company said.
"The opening of five public access hydrogen refuelling stations in London before the end of 2016 is a big task. It represents the culmination of several years of diligent work and allows the Company to demonstrate its ability to deliver large and complex projects," said Chief Executive Graham Cooley.
ITM Power shares were trading up 3.4% to 15.25 pence per share on Wednesday morning.
By Joshua Warner; joshuawarner@alliancenews.com; @JoshAlliance
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