Hydrogen needs heroes. It needs individuals, companies and governments with the know-how, belief, financial clout and desire to prove hydrogen’s case.
And they are doing. By working together, or alone, if necessary.
It is thanks to a growing number of companies that hydrogen-powered trains, buses, cars, planes are now becoming a reality.
Some are working with INEOS others not. We know it’s early days, but we wanted to highlight the work of those individuals and companies.
Hyundai
In 2013 Hyundai unveiled the first commercially-produced hydrogen fuel cell car, the Hyundai ix35 FCEV. Since then it has lost none of its appetite and wants to become the first global vehicle manufacturer to offer hydrogen versions of all its commercial vehicles by 2028.
Baxi Heating
Hydrogen gas is not new, but it does offer new opportunities to heat people’s homes.
And one company keen to do that is Baxi Heating’s parent company BDR Thermea Group, which has developed the first hydrogen central heating boiler in the world.
JCB
Engineers at the company’s quarrying proving ground in Derbyshire have been carying out trials on the 20-tonne 220X excavator, which is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The development means JCB is the first construction equipment company in the world to unveil a working prototype of an excavator powered by hydrogen.
Wrightbus
The Wrightbus, StreetDeck Hydroliner, has a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain that allows the bus to travel up to 280 miles. It was designed to meet the demands of both bus companies, drivers and passengers.
Porterbrook
Porterbrook worked closely with the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Railway Research and Education to develop The HydroFLEX by fitting a hydrogen pack to an existing Class 319 train.
ZeroAvia
ZeroAvia, which is based in California, wants to revolutionise aviation by building a new generation of zero-emission powertrains for aircraft of all sizes.
Cadent
Cadent has welcomed the UK Government’s plans to blend 20 per cent hydrogen into the wider gas network, saying it is a logical, low-risk key step that requires no new technology.
Alstom
The Coradia iLint, from French company Alstom, is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, can cover about 1,000km on a single tank of hydrogen – and filling up with hydrogen is as fast as filling up with diesel. The service from Cuxhaven to Buxtehude, west of Hamburg, will become the first fully operated by hydrogen trains in the first half of 2022 when a fleet of 14 Coradia iLints replaces the entire diesel fleet.
Hanson UK
Hydrogen has been used for the first time to make cement – thanks to UK government funding. The successful trial was conducted at Hanson UK’s Ribblesdale site in Lancashire, and paves the way for the company to use hydrogen instead of fossil fuels to make cement.
Essar Oil UK
Essar Oil UK, one of the UK's largest downstream energy companies, is to install a new furnace which can run on 100% hydrogen in the crude distillation unit at its Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port. The company has also submitted plans to build hydrogen production plants at the site.
GeoPura
A British company has been quietly making hydrogen history behind the scenes since 2019. In a first for television, GeoPura used a Hydrogen Power Unit instead of diesel generator to help BBC Studios present 12 live broadcasts of Springwatch.
Global Thinking
INEOS and Hyundai, two world-class companies which believe hydrogen could power the global economy of the future, are now working together.
They have signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’ to explore fresh opportunities for producing, supplying and using hydrogen in everyday life.