£23m Hydrogen for Transport Programme launched

Fri 18 August 2017 View all news

The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) has announced details of a £23 million Hydrogen Transport Programme, which aims to expand the network of hydrogen refuelling stations alongside the deployment of fuel cell vehicles, building on the successes of the previous HRS Infrastructure Capital Grant Scheme.

This new £23m Programme will provide funding to support the roll out of hydrogen refuelling stations and fuel cell vehicles in the UK. The programme has two primary objectives:

  1. to increase the number of publicly-accessible hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK,
  2. to increase the number of fuel cell-powered electric vehicles on UK roads.

£23m of funding is by open competition for both Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and will be released in two stages. Stage One of the HTP opened to applications for funding on 17th August, and closes on 16th October 2017.  It is anticipated that several projects will receive funding awards, to be funded between November 2017 and May 2019.

Stage 1 will commit up to £9m to 50:50 match fund around seven HRSs to be completed in 2018/19, plus captive fleets.  Funding will commence in November 2017.

Stage 2 will commit up to £14m to fund up to ten HRSs plus captive fleets and will begin in December 2018, subject to market developments over Stage 1.

“The Hydrogen for Transport Programme is a further demonstration of the UK Government’s commitment to developing a hydrogen infrastructure in the UK as part of its target to eliminate diesel and petrol from UK roads by 2040,” said Dr Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power. 

The funding will allow additional larger capacity HRS to be built, whilst optimising the utilisation of these and existing stations by providing funding to support the purchase of vehicle fleets that can be refuelled at all HRS.

Application forms can be downloaded from the HTP website at: http://www.ee.ricardo.com/HTPGrants.

To ensure effective ramp-up is possible, Stage Two is due to start in December 2018, before the end of Stage One. Stage Two is also contingent on satisfactory progress on vehicle supply and on market developments during Stage One. This is designed to be met within a framework that offers the best value for money to the Government and hence to the UK taxpayer.

How to apply

The application form and guidance document can be downloaded the files from the links below:

Alternatively, you can email HTPGrants@ricardo.com to register your interest and request the forms.

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