bp aims to amp UK hydrogen distribution and supply infrastructure

The company has completed a feasibility study alongside BOC to explore optimised designs for expanding the alternative fuel’s network for heavy duty transportation throughout the region.

bp and BOC, a Linde company, have completed a joint feasibility study exploring optimised designs for a potential hydrogen distribution and supply network for heavy duty transportation in the UK. The nine-month study provided technical insights into requirements and options for hydrogen distribution, station design considerations, and dispensing costs for heavy duty transport applications.

The study concluded that, in the near-term, distribution of hydrogen as compressed gas via road trailer is the best option to stimulate the UK market for hydrogen fuel for heavy duty transport. Over the longer term, as the market expands into new geographies, both liquid and gaseous hydrogen have potential to play a role.

“Our customers in hard-to-abate sectors, such as heavy-duty transport, are demanding low carbon alternative fuels. They need and want to decarbonise. Cutting HGV emissions requires new infrastructure, and by bringing together our technical expertise, understanding of the supply chain, and insights from our customers, I am confident that together we can do more to drive change at pace for our customers,” said Richard Harding, Senior Vice President of Portfolio & Integration at bp.

bp and BOC are now exploring opportunities to collaborate to design and deploy an initial network for heavy duty transport hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in the UK. Reducing emissions from heavy duty transportation can make an important contribution to meeting the UK’s climate goals while making up just 5% of vehicle miles, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) accounted for around 16% of UK road transport tailpipe emissions in 2019.