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27 Oct 20221 minute read

Shell shuts key hydrogen vehicle sites

ECAtoday
Shell shuts key hydrogen vehicle sites

Shell has closed three prototype hydrogen vehicle filling stations in Beaconsfield, Gatwick and Cobham, reportedly due to very low user demand. Two of the vehicle hydrogen fuel cell sites were opened with a fanfare between 2017 and 2019. 

In the race to decarbonise UK transport, electric vehicles have emerged as the strongly preferred customer and vehicle producer option. Although hydrogen fuel cell cars can be topped up quicker than most EVs, UK customers only have a couple of fuel cell vehicle options. 

At the end of September 2022, there were nearly 35,000 EV charging points across the UK, at nearly 21,000 charging locations, a 35% increase in the number of chargers since September 2021. The remaining number of hydrogen filling stations in Britain is around a dozen.

Shell has said its UK focus is building multi-modal hydrogen hubs for heavy-duty trucks, and to upscale its existing EV charge point network. A spokesperson said, “Shell is assessing multifuel refuelling forecourts which could include EV, hydrogen and other cleaner fuels for the heavy-duty market.” 

At present, most hydrogen used around the world for industrial and other applications is a by-product of natural gas production, an integral part of Shell’s business. Even so, in the Netherlands, Shell has begun building what is widely reported to be Europe’s largest renewable energy generated (green) hydrogen plant. A 200MW water electrolyser will be constructed in the port of Rotterdam and will aim to produce up to 60 tonnes of green hydrogen daily.

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