The Department of Economic Development is pleased to announce that Clean tech firm ITM Power carried out a trial using vehicles powered with hydrogen fuel in the Isle of Man during the week of 25 June. The trial was organised by the Department of Infrastructure and allowed the Isle of Man Government to evaluate the performance and economics of powering vehicles with clean hydrogen fuel that is made on site, on the Isle of Man.
The trial on the Island is part of ITM Power’s nationwide Hydrogen On Site Trials (HOST) programme, which was launched in 2011 and funded by the Technology Strategy Board. HOST was supported by 22 partners, and this trial brings the programme to a close. The trial was managed and operated by ITM Power personnel.
The ITM Power transportable high pressure refuelling unit (HFuel) makes hydrogen on site using only water and electricity. The HFuel removes the need for a fuel delivery as the hydrogen is made at the point of use and can refuel vehicles in less than five minutes.
Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power, said
'Islands are perfect for demonstrating our HFuel technology, as we can show how hydrogen, a clean fuel, can be made on site using locally generated renewable energy to help reduce the dependency on imported fuel, reduce exposure to fuel price volatility, and importantly increase fuel security. We are delighted to be working with the Department of Infrastructure on the Isle of Man, and are grateful for this exciting opportunity and marvellous location from which to bring ourHOST programme to a completion. Demonstration of HFuel will now progress with our “HFuel Here” initiative for exhibitions and events.'
David Cretney MHK, Minister for the Department of Infrastructure, added:
‘The Isle of Man is continually looking for new ways in which we can further reduce our carbon emissions and theHOST programme gives us the chance to see first-hand how hydrogen will work for the Island. Hopefully we will gain a good insight into the benefits of this technology to enable us to reduce fuel costs. We look forward to working with ITM and discussing the results and opportunities arising from the trial in due course.’
Laurence Skelly MHK, Department of Economic Development with responsibility for Energy Policy commented:
'This is a great opportunity to promote the clean tech sector. The Isle of Man has the opportunity to produce significant quantities of renewable energy which exceed our own requirements and this excess energy is required to be either transported or stored. The Island has already been trialling storage using electric vehicle technology in TT Zero and now we have another option to use hydrogen fuel to assist us in our endeavour to cut costs and become more sustainable in the future.’
