Nel Hydrogen and consultancy firm, Linesight, have collaborated on the delivery of a new hydrogen fuel station for 20 hydrogen buses for Transport for London (TfL). One of the key objectives of the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy for 2018 is the decarbonisation of London's bus network under which all TfL's buses will be electric or hydrogen fuelled at the latest by 2037.
Under the terms of this programme, Nel was commissioned to provide TfL with a Hydrogen (H2) station solution to provide fuel to 20 hydrogen buses operating in west London. The buses are already a competitive alternative to battery buses and will, soon, close the cost difference with the current ICE (diesel) fleet. This state-of-the-art hydrogen station allows TfL to refuel hydrogen buses in just a few minutes. This is a major benefit on the road to zero-emission, matching the time taken to fill up conventional buses.
Hydrogen buses can also store more energy than equivalent buses, meaning they can be deployed on longer routes. This contract worth several million and includes a 10-year service and maintenance contract. The station, which will be completed imminently, will initially service a fleet of 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses at Metroline's Perivale bus depot. Currently, London has 9,000 buses in operation, and plans to make all buses in London to be run either on electric battery or hydrogen, by 2037.
Commenting on the project Karsten Poulsen, vice president operations, Nel Hydrogen Fuelling said, "Transport for London (TfL) are forging the path for a sustainable business by 2037 and it has been a privilege working with them on their hydrogen fuelled bus programme to date. Our collaboration with Linesight has resulted in clear stakeholder management and prioritisation of key activities enabling us to meet the expectations of TfL and open the hydrogen refuelling facility efficiently. Linesight has played a pivotal role on the Perivale project in procuring key and bespoke packages of work that are fundamental to project handover to the end user."