A multimillion-pound partnership between Octopus Hydrogen and Luxfer Gas Cylinders is opening the path for cleaner and greener heavy goods transportation and aviation.
Luxfer Gas Cylinders, a global leader in high-pressure composite and aluminum cylinders, has partnered with Octopus Hydrogen, a subsidiary of green energy technology pioneer Octopus Energy, to specify and supply bulk gas transport modules that will transport green hydrogen across the United Kingdom.
Luxfer’s 40-foot-long units, dubbed Multiple Element Gas Containers (MEGC), are capable of transporting 1.1 tonnes of hydrogen from the electrolyser plant to the site of application. They will be installed beginning in mid-2022 and will contribute to overcoming the infrastructural barrier impeding widespread use of the technology.
William Rowe, CEO and Founder of Octopus Hydrogen, said: “Our focus is on delivering green hydrogen to the sectors which cannot be decarbonised by batteries alone, mainly aviation and heavy-duty road vehicles. We are building a network of decentralised green hydrogen production sites using electrolysis, co-located with renewable energy generation, with localised distribution.
“We are working with Luxfer Gas Cylinders to make green hydrogen for mobility a reality. Luxfer understands the challenges of safely transporting large amounts of hydrogen and is delivering a fantastic solution now and has a great future roadmap.”
Mark Lawday, Global Sales Director from Luxfer added: “We manufacture over one million high performance, high pressure cylinders every year. In the alternative fuel sector, we have a team of designers and engineers who develop industry leading systems, integrating lightweight composite cylinders into fuel system modules for compressed natural gas and hydrogen applications ranging from buses, trucks, boats to bulk gas transport trailers.
“Bulk gas transport for hydrogen is an important piece of the jigsaw in enabling the hydrogen economy to be fully realised and reach net zero goals. It’s an exciting step forward, and we’re proud to be working alongside Octopus Hydrogen to drive forward innovation.”
The systems will be manufactured at Luxfer’s UK manufacturing facility in Nottingham, which houses an alternative fuels team that has designed unique hydrogen systems for world-first transportation projects such as double decker hydrogen buses, heavy goods vehicles, and the UK’s first hydrogen train.