Element 2, the hydrogen infrastructure specialist that is currently the subject of a reverse takeover onto the UK share market using cash shell Pineapple Power, is already on the sharp end of the development of the UK’s hydrogen fuel plans.
Element 2 is the beneficiary of a UK government grant to build four hydrogen refueling stations in the country’s north-east. These will be primarily for use by trucks. It is envisaged that hydrogen’s immediate utility with road transport will be with long range haulage and potentially also municipal transport, rather than private cars.
The UK Transport Secretary announced two winning projects this month for an £8m government grant. Element 2 was one of the winners, and will be using the funds to create four refueling stations.
“Hydrogen technology has great potential to decarbonise transport and help grow the economy,” said Transport Secretary Mark Harper. “[The] winners illustrate the expertise the Tees Valley has as a pioneer in developing hydrogen tech. This investment will provide a further boost to the economy, creating skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the North East.”
This funding brings the UK closer to decarbonising some of the heavier and more complex vehicles, which will be essential in reaching net zero.
Already used in buses across the country, hydrogen fuel cells create no harmful exhaust emissions. Greater use of hydrogen could help grow the UK economy with a transport system that is resilient to global energy prices, environmentally friendly and could see the creation of thousands of skilled jobs.
Large scale hydrogen refueling station
The new hydrogen refueling hub is going to be located at Teesside International Airport. It marks a hat trick of government support wins for Element 2 this year. The project will see the development of a modern, large-scale hydrogen refueling station at the airport, supporting a range of long-term trials of commercial vans, led by Innervated Vehicle Engineering, as well as additional passenger cars and airside support vehicles, led by Tees Valley Airport.
The initiative is intended to enrich the region’s refueling infrastructure with green hydrogen supply, aiming for a substantial yearly reduction of 240,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
“As we expand the hydrogen refueling infrastructure throughout the UK, projects such as this empower fleet operators to gain proficiency in running zero-emission HGVs,” said Tim Harper, CEO of Element 2. “We are looking forward to collaborating with an increasing number of fleets across the region.”
Harper explained that heavy goods vehicles are responsible for almost a third of the UK’s transport emissions, and the construction of the Teesside hub is part of a plan to help the UK to accelerate the shift away from diesel, providing real environmental and health benefits.
In partnership with Innervated Vehicle Engineering, Element 2 is preparing to transform hydrogen vehicle trials into tangible, commercial applications, generating valuable performance data that will fuel further breakthroughs in hydrogen-powered transportation.
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The venture is a significant step towards Teesside International Airport’s 2030 net zero target and is poised to amplify the influence of hydrogen energy throughout Tees Valley. Element 2’s investment could initiative a genuine ripple effect that extends beyond the airport, marking a major shift towards greener transportation in the region.
Originally a private company, Element 2 is coming to the share market via a reverse takeover with cash shell Pineapple Power. The shares in Pineapple Power are currently suspended, as part of the formalities for the RTO.
