A new hydrogen refueling station is now operational at the UK’s Teesside Airport. Part of a pilot program to test the feasibility of the environmentally-friendly fuel, the station—installed and operated by venture capital-backed Element 2—will be used to refuel the international airport’s zero-emission commercial and support vehicles. Currently in operation are a pair of Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell cars and a Kangaroo light van. A hydrogen-fueled aircraft tug is slated to arrive in the second quarter.
In September 2020, Tees Valley was announced as the home of the UK’s first Hydrogen Transport Hub. In partnership with the local Teesside University, it will form a campus focused on clean energy research and development, for land, sea, and air applications.
“I want our airport to be the first hydrogen-ready airport in the UK, helping to boost our low-carbon credentials even further,” said Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen, adding that two local businesses are among the vanguard in companies looking to apply hydrogen power to aviation. "By proving these vehicles are efficient, easy to use, and safe in a wide range of applications, we're putting our region at the forefront of the hydrogen revolution while showing that our airport is much more than flights to Alicante."