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A refuelling station which will serve hydrogen-powered vehicles based in the Tees Valley is now up and running at Teesside International Airport as part of a £2.5million region-wide trial.

As part of the Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub, the airport, along with other key organisations, is testing out commercial and support vehicles fitted with 100% zero-emission hydrogen-fuelled commercial and support vehicles.

Now Element 2, supporting the construction of the UK’s hydrogen infrastructure, has set up the station to provide fuel for two Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and a forklift which have recently arrived at the site. This is alongside a Kangoo hydrogen-powered light van and a hydrogen tug due to arrive by May.

Toyota is deploying a number of hydrogen vehicles across the region’s rapid response services, such as emergency response units for the Cleveland Police and NHS patient support, which can also take advantage of the new refuelling infrastructure. Northern Gas Networks, which is testing hydrogen as an alternative to natural gas in households in the region, also relies on a hydrogen vehicle.

Until the launch of the new refuelling station at Teesside Airport the nearest place hydrogen vehicles could refuel was nearly 100 miles away in Rotherham.

In September 2020 it was announced that Tees Valley would be home to the UK’s first Hydrogen Transport Hub. The hub, in partnership with Teesside University, will form an innovation campus focused on clean energy research and development. It will lead research, development, and testing of new hydrogen transport technologies including for cars, buses, trains, lorries, boats and planes.

As Toyota’s hydrogen vehicles are deployed across emergency response units and services, these vehicles are seeing intense, daily use in demanding scenarios. Emergency response and support vehicles, whether for police work, NHS patient support, or utility companies like Northern Gas Networks, are often subjected to constant motion, varied weather conditions, and frequent passenger changes.

Given the wear these vehicles experience, especially on the seats, it’s essential to keep their interiors in optimal condition. For those involved in rapid response, ensuring clean, undamaged seating is more than an aesthetic choice; it supports hygiene and comfort for personnel who spend long hours on the road. Simple steps to protect your truck’s seats, for instance, can make a significant difference, preventing wear and extending the life of these vehicles even as they operate in challenging environments.

Using seat protectors specifically designed for heavy-duty trucks can help maintain the seats, shielding them from potential damage due to spills, equipment, or heavy-duty use. By focusing on both fuel innovation and vehicle maintenance, these hydrogen initiatives demonstrate that sustainable transport can be both eco-friendly and built to last.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:

“The trial of these vehicles and refuelling station is just one of many ground-breaking hydrogen initiatives taking part across Teesside, Hartlepool and Darlington right now, to understand its potential and pave the way for the cleaner, safer and healthier industries of the future. It sits alongside projects by the likes of bp and Kellas Midstream in both blue and green hydrogen production and Northern Gas Networks’ testing of hydrogen as alternative to natural gas for home heating and cooking.

“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.

“I want our airport to be the first hydrogen-ready airport in the UK, helping to boost our low-carbon credentials even further. It was only a few weeks ago, too, that we heard two local businesses – Nova Pangea Technologies and Alfanar Energy – were leading research into sustainable aviation fuels in a Government-backed scheme to develop a plane powered by liquid hydrogen. Together, this all demonstrates the real potential of the sector and how it can help create the good-quality well-paid jobs of tomorrow.”

Brendan Bilton, Element 2’s Chief Technology Officer said:

“For every 1kg of hydrogen fuel used, 3.7 litres of Diesel and 10kg of CO2 emissions is offset. The Tees Valley Hydrogen Hub will play a vital part in decarbonising the North East, local residents and workers will benefit from cleaner air and the hub will create more skilled jobs in the region.

“We want to encourage fleet owners and operators to take advantage of this opportunity. Together, we can make diesel history.”

James Clarke, Toyota GB spokesperson said:

“The provision of our Mirai hydrogen fuel cell cars to the Teesside Hydrogen Transport Hub is another step in the journey towards a hydrogen society. It’s great that they will be put to good use by support services, joining a growing range of industries and organisations that are already benefitting from zero-emission vehicles, and that can be speedily re-fuelled in just three minutes, with a driving range of approximately 300 miles.”

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