Exolum will construct a green hydrogen production plant and refuelling station at its Riverside terminal in Stockton-on-Tees as part of the Tees Valley Hydrogen Vehicle Ecosystem project.
The company has secured a £2 million grant from the UK Ministry of Transport, executed in partnership with Innovate UK under the Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub Competition.
Additionally, Exolum’s consortium partners have received £5 million to deploy at least 20 hydrogen fuel cell trucks in the region.
This initiative represents the first coordinated deployment of refuelling infrastructure and fleets of hydrogen fuel cell trucks in Tees Valley, marking a significant step in developing a national network of hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK.
The project involves the construction of a water electrolyzer and a hydrogen refuelling station at the Exolum Riverside terminal.
The electrolyzer will produce green hydrogen using renewable electricity and will supply both the planned refuelling station, with a capacity of 1.5 tonnes per day, and other regional customers through the “hub and spoke” distribution model.
Participating in the project are Electra Commercial Vehicles, a manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, and the German manufacturer Quantron AG, in collaboration with Novuna Vehicle Solutions.
Together, they will deploy at least 20 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks ranging from 4.2 to 27 tonnes, receiving a total of 5 million pounds under the same funding competition.
These vehicles will be used by major regional vehicle operators, replacing current diesel vehicles and thereby reducing local air pollution and carbon emissions.
Data control and performance evaluation of the hydrogen trucks will be overseen by the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies and the Net Zero Industrial Innovation Centre at Teesside University, contributing to the development of the hydrogen transport sector.
Andrés Suárez, Clean Energies Lead at Exolum, stated: “Exolum aims to be a prominent player in green hydrogen technology, contributing to the decarbonization of challenging-to-electrify sectors such as heavy-duty vehicle transportation.”
“This UK project, along with others we are developing and those already operational, like the first hydrogen plant for mobility in Madrid, allows us to offer this new technology in the market to drive the energy transition,” he added.
The Tees Valley Hydrogen Vehicle Ecosystem is a significant step in developing a national network of hydrogen refuelling stations, serving as a model for other regions to implement similar hydrogen-based mobility ecosystems.
This project will contribute to accelerating the UK‘s transition to zero-emission fuel cell vehicles and reducing carbon emissions.
About Exolum
Exolum is Europe’s leading liquid product logistics company and a key player globally.
Its primary activities include sustainable and efficient transport and storage of various liquid bulk products, especially refined products, chemicals, and biofuels.
Operating in sectors like eco-fuels, circular economy, and new energy vectors, the firm has over 2,000 professionals and operates in ten countries, managing a network of pipelines, storage terminals, and airport facilities with a total storage capacity exceeding 11 million cubic meters.
