Plans to enhance the environmental sustainability of British cities received a dual boost today as London unveiled proposals to create a hydrogen refuelling network across the capital and the government awarded £7.6m to eight smart grid research projects.
The London Hydrogen Partnership (LHP) today unveiled plans to deliver at least six refuelling sites for hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2012 as part of an initiative designed to ensure there are more than 150 hydrogen-powered buses, taxis, cars, delivery vehicles and motorbikes on the city's roads within two years.
The agency said it was continuing with work to build its first refuelling station in east London and expected hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses to begin running along the RV1 route before the end of the year.
It also confirmed that Greater London Authority bodies such as Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) are to order at least 50 hydrogen vehicles, while airport operator BAA is undertaking a feasibility study to explore how fuel cell technologies could be used at Heathrow and other airports.
Alongside plans to build a vehicle refuelling network, the LHP is also looking to roll out a number of static hydrogen fuel cells designed to power buildings after TfL successfully opened the UK's largest fuel cell at its offices in Southwark. The LHP said that by 2012 it wanted to install five large-scale fuel cells in London similar to the one used by TfL, as well as 10 fuel cell backup systems, which can be used to keep powering essential systems such as computer datacentres and lighting in the event of a power cut.
"Hydrogen is the fuel that will set us free from the ravages of the carbon economy and nowhere do we yearn for that freedom more than in London," said Kit Malthouse, London's deputy mayor for policing and chairman of the LHP. "By 2012, we want to have hydrogen on the ground, in the capital, propelling vehicles and powering buildings. Once the public can kick the tyres and breathe the fresh air again, we will have successfully kick-started a new era in London's energy future."
London mayor Boris Johnson has made hydrogen technologies a key part of his low-carbon strategy, arguing the technology will not only serve to cut carbon emissions but also tackle the capital's poor air quality.
The new hydrogen action plan will now seek to access funding from the European Union, UK government and the private sector to begin rolling out the new technologies.
The plan came on the same day as the Department of Energy and Climate Change announced that eight firms had secured a total of £7.6m in government grants to accelerate their smart grid research projects.
The projects cover a wide range of smart grid technologies, including energy storage, load management and demand response systems. The funding will also support a number of pilot projects, including plans for a £1.1m heat and power facility in Slough and a new smart grid site in Glasgow.
"Globally the business of developing smart grids has been estimated at £27bn over the next five years and the UK has the know-how to be part of that," said energy minister Lord Hunt. "We want to give companies the opportunities and the support to make sure we develop the technologies we need."
The London Hydrogen Partnership (LHP) today unveiled plans to deliver at least six refuelling sites for hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2012 as part of an initiative designed to ensure there are more than 150 hydrogen-powered buses, taxis, cars, delivery vehicles and motorbikes on the city's roads within two years.
The agency said it was continuing with work to build its first refuelling station in east London and expected hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses to begin running along the RV1 route before the end of the year.
It also confirmed that Greater London Authority bodies such as Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) are to order at least 50 hydrogen vehicles, while airport operator BAA is undertaking a feasibility study to explore how fuel cell technologies could be used at Heathrow and other airports.
Alongside plans to build a vehicle refuelling network, the LHP is also looking to roll out a number of static hydrogen fuel cells designed to power buildings after TfL successfully opened the UK's largest fuel cell at its offices in Southwark. The LHP said that by 2012 it wanted to install five large-scale fuel cells in London similar to the one used by TfL, as well as 10 fuel cell backup systems, which can be used to keep powering essential systems such as computer datacentres and lighting in the event of a power cut.
"Hydrogen is the fuel that will set us free from the ravages of the carbon economy and nowhere do we yearn for that freedom more than in London," said Kit Malthouse, London's deputy mayor for policing and chairman of the LHP. "By 2012, we want to have hydrogen on the ground, in the capital, propelling vehicles and powering buildings. Once the public can kick the tyres and breathe the fresh air again, we will have successfully kick-started a new era in London's energy future."
London mayor Boris Johnson has made hydrogen technologies a key part of his low-carbon strategy, arguing the technology will not only serve to cut carbon emissions but also tackle the capital's poor air quality.
The new hydrogen action plan will now seek to access funding from the European Union, UK government and the private sector to begin rolling out the new technologies.
The plan came on the same day as the Department of Energy and Climate Change announced that eight firms had secured a total of £7.6m in government grants to accelerate their smart grid research projects.
The projects cover a wide range of smart grid technologies, including energy storage, load management and demand response systems. The funding will also support a number of pilot projects, including plans for a £1.1m heat and power facility in Slough and a new smart grid site in Glasgow.
"Globally the business of developing smart grids has been estimated at £27bn over the next five years and the UK has the know-how to be part of that," said energy minister Lord Hunt. "We want to give companies the opportunities and the support to make sure we develop the technologies we need."
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