Euro Garages submitted service station plans to Aberdeenshire Council that include two hydrogen pumps.
A petrol station, EV charging, and hydrogen refuelling service station near the A90 has been proposed by the company.
The application states that Element 2, a UK company that wants to build a network of hydrogen refuelling stations, will supply the station.
The Euro Garage group invested £25m in a UK startup developing a hydrogen fuel cell heavy goods vehicle (HGV) last October, prompting the new Aberdeenshire plant. HVS (Hydrogen Vehicle Systems Ltd.) is developing its second flagship hydrogen medium commercial vehicle (MCV) after completing its first prototype.
The two companies want to help the UK government become the first nation to phase out new non-zero emission HGVs. They said EG Group could provide nationwide hydrogen refuelling infrastructure with their partnership. HVS offers zero-emission freight vehicles to promote hydrogen.
EG Group invested £5m in HVS in 2021 and added £25m.
15 UK hydrogen stations exist. The government and industry forecasted 65 refuelling stations in Britain by 2020, which was not met. Yet, recent advancements have shown that hydrogen enthusiasts are more optimistic and expansionist.
Element 2, a British startup, will launch a statewide hydrogen refuelling station network this year. Element 2’s pumping technology will serve private cars like the Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Nexo, and BMW iX5 Hydrogen.
Because 600,000 UK trucks emit 18% of road transport emissions, Element 2 prioritises hydrogen for trucks and buses. Trucks utilise 50kg of hydrogen each day, buses 20kg, and cars 1kg, making truck and bus refuelling facilities more profitable. 1kg of hydrogen costs £15, including 20% VAT (but no fuel duty), therefore 1,000 trucks switching to hydrogen will generate £750,000 each day.
Element 2 has made significant progress with £6.5 million of investment, but two further funding rounds totaling £100m are scheduled this year. By 2027, investment may reach £1 billion.
Carbon Zero policies have pushed the deployment of hydrogen fuel cells in big trucks and light commercial vans and pick-ups.
According to operators, battery-electric haulage can handle 30% of urban operations. “For other functions, the fuel cell can replace the internal combustion engine,” said Element 2 chief technology officer Brendan Bilton.
Element 2 is targeting the UK’s 147 truck stops to meet this need. By 2027, it needs 800 nozzles—five every truck stop—to cover the nation. It unveiled its first two planning-approved sites in July: Coneygarth on the A1 near Northallerton and Carlisle on the M6.
Hydrogen pumps will be on truck-stop forecourts, away from petrol/diesel. 40-foot compressed-gas tanker trailers from a central depot will supply them. Element 2 supplies hydrogen to Ineos from its Merseyside Runcorn plant.
