HYDROGEN INDUSTRY
TRANSFORMING THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
Lewis Anderson, head of Transformational Projects at Luxfer Gas Cylinders, examines why hydrogen forms a vital part of the decarbonisation puzzle
W
ith fossil fuel-powered vehicles making up the majority of vehicles on UK roads,
and despite increasing interest in electric vehicles, transport is the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, producing around a quarter of the country’s total emissions each year. As such, decarbonising the transport sector is vital if the UK is to meet its Net Zero ambitions. One solution which holds immense promise for
a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transport sector is hydrogen. While its impact on road transportation is
already significant – huge leaps have been made to adopt cleaner fuel to power buses, trains, trucks, tractors and a range of off-road vehicles and plant machinery – there have been increasing enquiries in recent years from marine, rail and aviation industry stakeholders keen to explore the fuel’s potential applications. As the investment in hydrogen for transport
continues to grow, it has become apparent that it is currently more suited to some applications than others. For example, hydrogen as fuel for the maritime and aviation sectors is currently a more complex proposition than for on-road as there are completely different regulatory landscapes, while rail presents operational, commercial and design concerns.
Lewis Anderson
ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE In recent years, there has been substantial innovation and development to enable the safe and efficient transportation of hydrogen via road. But while great strides are being made, the sector faces several barriers to hydrogen adoption. The widespread uptake of hydrogen is hinged on the development of fuelling infrastructure, meaning that the development thereof is key. While some progress has been made – 27GW of potential hydrogen projects have been identified in the UK– continued efforts are required to create a comprehensive and accessible hydrogen infrastructure. One way to address this infrastructure deficit is by developing bulk gas transport systems (BGT) or ‘virtual gas pipelines’, which can help connect the dots between hydrogen production and consumption by bridging the gap between the point of production and the point of use. Virtual gas pipelines allow operators to
decarbonise transport while providing the means to move the gas in a scalable way. Crucially, they offer a stepping stone until dedicated pipeline infrastructure is established and can provide either temporary or permanent solutions to delivery or capacity difficulties. The future of hydrogen transportation will likely
involve a combination of physical and virtual pipelines, with each solution utilised to meet different needs across the supply chain. However, for the foreseeable future, virtual gas pipelines offer a promising, flexible solution for moving hydrogen to where it’s needed.
HYDROGEN CYLINDER OPTIONS AND BENEFITS Another crucial consideration is how hydrogen is stored as part of the system to power buses, trucks, trains, and other modes of transport. Here, cylinder choice plays a significant role, with Type 3 and Type 4 cylinders the most commonly used in transport. Each has different core benefits, with product selection based upon the application and the brief. Type 3 aluminium lined cylinders are robust, faster filling due to heat dissipation and are non-permeable, which means they have been a preferred choice of pioneers and OEMs for many years. Plastic lined Type 4 cylinders deliver high storage volumes while remaining lightweight, offering a cost-effective hydrogen storage solution ideal for long range rail, boats and other vehicles. Each has its merits based on application and
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A crucial consideration is how hydrogen is stored as part of the system to power transport. Type 3 and Type 4 cylinders are the most commonly used
what is most critical to users’ operation – Type 3 cylinders are heavier, but Type 4 cylinders often require hydrogen to be chilled before filling as the heat produced in a fast-fill system can affect the polymer liner.
DRIVING DECARBONISATION IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR As a 125-year-old company with an 80-year legacy in gas containment, Luxfer Gas Cylinders has spent more than two decades developing hydrogen fuel solutions to power buses, trucks, trains, marine vessels, refuse vehicles and more. In recent years, our lightweight, high pressure storage systems have been used for milestone projects that have redefined the landscape. These include the world’s first hydrogen- powered double decker buses, the UK’s first hydrogen train, as well as the first hydrogen- powered marine crew transfer vessel, servicing wind farms in the North Sea. While we acknowledge that hydrogen is not
going to be the answer to all transport needs, it forms a vital part of the decarbonisation puzzle and has the potential to not only transform the sector by enabling rapid carbon reduction, but also to help the UK reach its Net Zero ambitions.
Luxfer Gas Cylinders
www.luxfercylinders.com/market/alternative- fuel/
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2024 11
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