£7m Government support scheme for fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to centre on South Wales
Fri 12 February 2010
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The Energy Minister, Lord Hunt has announced plans to invest £7m in 15 hydrogen/fuel cell demonstrator projects. The funding, which will be coordinated by the Technology Strategy Board, will support existing research and development into fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and assist the efforts of UK companies in commercialising the technology. The funding will be centred on South Wales with the South West as a key partner.
South Wales was announced as the UK's sixth Low Carbon Economic Area and is earmarked as the leading centre in the UK for hydrogen energy with South West as a key partner and with £6.3m of funding through the University of Glamorgan
Speaking at Johnson Matthey in Swindon, Energy Minister Lord Hunt highlighted how the LCEA will build on the expertise in South Wales to develop hydrogen on a commercial basis and would be closely linked to end users based on the M4 corridor. Lord Hunt also announced that the company will receive a share of £7.2m of funding to develop hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
The funding will see a "hydrogen highway" from South Wales to the South East of the UK, developed so that alternative fuel vehicles, including electric cars, can refuel along this route.
Lord Hunt, said: “Cleaning up our energy supply and the fuel we use for transport will give the UK the opportunity to develop the low carbon industries of the future. Fuel cells and hydrogen can play a key role in cutting CO2 emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The projects supported will showcase 'innovative technologies' and should assist in meeting UK and EU emission reduction targets. In addition to transport, the funding will support projects to provide energy to homes and other dwellings.
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