Boost for clean transport sector as hydrogen station launches at Gatwick Airport

An energy storage and clean fuel company has launched its latest hydrogen refuelling station at Gatwick Airport.

ITM Power has opened its eighth public access hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) at Shell services on the M23 corridor south of London.

The station, which will be Shell-branded, will offer hydrogen refuelling in a bid to decrease emissions and boost customer confidence in hydrogen powered transport.

Mike Copson, hydrogen business development manager at Shell, commented: “We are pleased to be expanding our network with the opening of our third Shell branded hydrogen refuelling site, and fulfilling our initial commitments alongside our partner ITM Power.

The new HRS is the second of two stations in the UK to be launched as part of the pan-European H2ME2 project, funded by the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU) and the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

Bart Biebuyck, executive director of the FCH JU, added: “We are fully committed to ensure that Europe is at the forefront of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies.

“We have already supported over 50 hydrogen refuelling stations through our H2ME programme and, with initiatives like the European HRS Availability System, we aim to ensure that drivers soon can choose hydrogen-based, clean means of transport throughout the continent - and have reliable information to do so.

“This new hydrogen refuelling station, located in a strategic transport hub like Gatwick, where synergies with other transport modes can be reached, marks a big step forward towards a cleaner transport sector.”