Daimler and BP join to create UK hydrogen network

The reality of hydrogen becoming a practical fuel for long-haul road transport in the UK has moved another step closer with a new partnership between Daimler Trucks and BP. The project, currently at the stage of a memorandum of understanding between Daimler Truck AG and BP Advanced Mobility Ltd, initially aims to ascertain the feasibility of creating a UK network of 25 hydrogen refuelling stations by 2030. There’s no confirmation of when the first refuelling station will be operational, but Daimler Trucks expects the first deliveries of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks to UK operators to begin in 2025.

The plan is to provide sustainable green hydrogen from a planned hydrogen production hub in the north-east of England. BP already has plans to build a facility on Teeside to produce blue hydrogen from natural gas.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks CEO Karin Rådström said: “We are consistently pursuing our vision of CO2-neutral transport. Especially for CO2-neutral long-haul road transportation, the hydrogen-powered fuel-cell drive will become indispensable in the future. Together with BP, we want to jointly develop and scale the required hydrogen infrastructure by putting our hydrogen-powered fuel-cell trucks into our customers’ hand and thus supporting the decarbonisation of the UK freight network. At the same time, political support plays an important role in promoting the creation of an infrastructure for green hydrogen and making an economically viable use of fuel-cell trucks possible for our customers”

Emma Delaney, BP’s executive vice president added: “Hydrogen is critical to decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors – and for heavy and long-distance freight it is sometimes the only answer. Working with a leading manufacturer like Daimler Truck, we can accelerate the deployment of both vehicles and infrastructure and pioneer the use of hydrogen to fuel the next generation of UK freight. From producing and supplying hydrogen through to building and operating the fuelling stations, BP is perfectly positioned to transform transport and ultimately build a better energy future.”