Page 18 - Gi_DecJan2020

transport for a green world

hydrogen at a cost of 40-70 per cent
lower than electrolysis.
Not only that, but grid-supplied
hydrogen worked out six times cheaper
than hydrogen delivered via tube trailer.
Both battery electric vehicles
(BEVs) more suited to short journeys
and hydrogen fuel cell electric
vehicles (FCEVs) better adapted to
longer journeys will be needed for
decarbonisation.
The roll-out of BEVs is ahead of
FCEVs, largely due to the lack of
low cost, bulk hydrogen production
facilities and refuelling infrastructure.
On their own, BEVs cannot deliver the
deep cuts in carbon emissions that
are needed, but the reduced costs of
hydrogen through the HyNet project
would allow the fuel costs of FCEVs CNG IS ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE
to match those of BEVs and diesel TO HGV EMISSIONS
vehicles, helping to make them a viable
option for fleet owners.
Hydrogen cars, buses, trains and ships
are at different stages of testing and
development but they give us a tempting
glimpse into the potential of hydrogen to
decarbonise transport. Nonetheless, there
are still technical challenges to overcome
if we are to fill up our hydrogen vehicles
in the same way we currently fill up our
petrol and diesel trucks.
The major constraint for grid-
delivered hydrogen is meeting the
high purity threshold required by
hydrogen fuel cells. Gas quality and
contamination are the twin challenges.
At Cadent, we are proud to be leading
cutting edge research into this area.
Supported by Ofgem’s National
Innovation Allowance funding, Cadent
has instigated the Hydrogen Grid to
Vehicle project (HG2V). We are working HYDROGEN PURITY TESTING
with academia, including the National
Physics Laboratory and industry experts Hydrogen cars, buses, trains zero carbon gases, it offers us the key to
DNV GL, to single out the sources of and ships are at different affordably and sustainably decarbonising
contamination and find solutions. the tricky area of heavy transport.
The four-phase project will first stages of testing and As a channel for delivering
identify the sources and level development but they give biomethane CNG, the gas grid is
of contamination and possible us a tempting glimpse into already delivering immediate emission
technologies to purify or remove the potential of hydrogen to reduction benefits and offers an
contaminants. The third phase will excellent platform for the transition
see the development of an economic decarbonise transport to a net zero hydrogen transport future.
model to ensure purification methods At Cadent, we will continue to
are sustainable, culminating in the final will be needed to provide the quality work with industry and government,
phase to develop a network trial using of hydrogen required. encouraging the actions needed now
a specially designed rig to simulate the We strongly welcomed the to ensure that the infrastructure and
efficiency of purification methods. Department for Transport’s first vehicles are ready to take advantage
So far, initial findings show that it Transport Decarbonisation Plan, aimed of future opportunities.
is possible to produce fuel cell grade at reducing emissions from the transport
hydrogen by both steam methane sector and the package of measures that Cadent is the UK’s largest gas
reforming and electrolysis, indicating will enable the UK to go further and distribution network, serving 11 million
that contamination is likely to originate faster to tackle climate change. users across the country. For more
within the pipeline network. In The UK gas grid remains a valuable information on Cadent’s transport work,
addition, further research indicates that national asset to help the UK to do this. visit www.cadentgas.com/innovation/
more than one purification technology Successfully repurposed to carry low and projects/revolutionising-transport

18

14/11/2019 13:35
FutureOfTransport.indd 3
FutureOfTransport.indd 3 14/11/2019 13:35