Tees Valley continues to be “beacon for hydrogen technologies” with £20m innovation competition

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP has visited the region to announce it will play host to a new £20m competition thanks to its status as the UK’s Hydrogen Transport Hub.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen welcomed the Transport Secretary, who was joined by a hydrogen ambulance, tug, bus and cars all taking part in the region’s hydrogen transport trial. She later visited Darlington firm Cummins, which is leading development of a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine.

Bidders in the new competition will push the boundaries of hydrogen to see how to best utilise it in a “greener, cleaner and more efficient” transport sector, vying for a portion of a £20m pot.

Hydrogen, which produces no carbon emissions when used as a fuel, has an abundance of potential that has yet to be unlocked and today’s announcement will address just that. As part of the competition, run by Innovate UK, businesses and research groups will collaborate to discover how hydrogen can be used as a reliable fuel source.

The announcement will also see an additional £300k put forward to support upskilling the local workforce and foster a specialised skills base and pipeline of talent, further cementing the Tees Valley’s status as the home of hydrogen.

This will help grow the UK economy, with a transport system that is resilient to global energy prices, environmentally friendly and could see the creation of hundreds of skilled jobs. Innovate UK and the Department for Transport are now set to hold an industry update event this Friday to give more information on the competition.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen commented: “With ever-increasing global energy prices, a looming net zero deadline but a real chance to grab emerging opportunities with both hands, now more than ever we must be looking to the cleaner, safer and healthier industries of the future, such as hydrogen.

“The first phase of our Hydrogen Transport Hub pilot, at sites including Teesside Airport, has already proved a great success, showing how these vehicles can be used safely, effectively and cleanly in a whole range of ways.

Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan added: “Climate change is one of the biggest challenges this generation faces, and with transport contributing 24 per cent to the UK’s Co2 levels, we are working hard to change things now and for the future.

“Tees Valley continues to be the beacon for hydrogen technologies and will be further supported by £20m going to the best and the brightest ideas that will create a world leading industry, with more skilled jobs in the heart of the north of England.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

• Add me on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up to date
• And follow Bdaily on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• Submit press releases to editor@bdaily.co.uk for consideration.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →