Mike Penning took time out of the Conservative Party Conference to visit the University of Birmingham/Air Products hydrogen fuelling station and learn more about the developing technology.

Mike Penning visited the state-of-the-art Air Products hydrogen fuelling station at the University of Birmingham on Tuesday (5th October) to learn more about the developments being made in hydrogen transport technology.

In Birmingham for the Conservative Party Conference, Mike Penning visited the University to see the Air Products Series 100 fuelling station and witness the fuelling of one of the University’s fleet of hydrogen powered vehicles. The Minister was also able to drive a hydrogen powered Microcab and see first-hand how the technology works in practice.

After the fuelling the minister was also shown around the University’s research facility and given a sneak preview of the new hydrogen powered Microcab design that the University is currently developing.

Used as a transport fuel, hydrogen cuts to zero the exhaust pipe air pollution and carbon emissions currently associated with road transport without compromising range, speed and fuelling time. Air Products is at the forefront of developing hydrogen fuelling technology that has the potential to play a crucial part in creating a low-carbon transport infrastructure for the UK.

Air Products installed the Series 100 fuelling station at the University’s School of Chemical Engineering in April 2008. It was the UK’s first permanent hydrogen fuelling station and the design has since won the Rushlight Hydrogen and Fuel Cell industry award for innovation. The Series 100 is designed to fuel small fleets of hydrogen vehicles on a daily bases and includes an integrated compression, hydrogen storage and dispensing system.

Diana Raine, Air Products, Hydrogen Energy Systems said: “It was fantastic that the Transport Minister could take the time out of his schedule to visit the fuelling station at Birmingham. The technology he has seen today really is capable of changing the transport infrastructure of the UK and contributing to a low carbon economy. “It is extremely encouraging that the Government is taking the time to learn more about this technology first hand.”

Mike Penning commented:
“A one size fits all approach to low carbon vehicles simply isn't feasible. In order for the UK to decarbonise road transport, a mix of technologies including hydrogen has to be considered.”

The Minister added:
“I am delighted to see first-hand today Air Products and the University of Birmingham driving forward hydrogen fuel technology. It's state of the art technology like this that will help drive the British economy in years to come.”

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