ITM signs deal with SSE

The AIM-listed Sheffield firm said Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) has signed a deal to participate in its Hydrogen On Site Trials (Host) programme.

SSE joins Sheffield City Council, the London Borough of Camden, logistics firm DHL, London Stansted Airport, and the Forestry Commission in signing up for the trials.

ITM is currently building its HFuel high-pressure refueller, thanks to support from the Technology Strategy Board and partners Gateway to London and Revolve Technologies. ITM's innovative electrolyser technology creates high-purity hydrogen from electricity and water. Trials will start next year, once HFuel has been built, and will provide each council with two Ford Transit vans run on hydrogen generated by portable refuellers.

Dr Graham Cooley, chief executive of ITM, said he will make reference to the arrangement as part of his presentation at the 'Making Way for Scotland's Hydrogen Energy' Conference, taking place later today.

He said in a statement this morning: "We are delighted that SSE, a major electricity and gas provider with a focus on sustainable energy supply to the built environment and transport, has joined the HOST programme in order to appraise the potential of ITM's energy storage: clean fuel technology, for decarbonising return-to-base logistics fleet vehicles.

"We have been encouraged by the support that HOST has attracted to date and we expect that support to continue to grow with organisations from other sectors in the near future."

David Densley, head of sustainable transport for SSE, added: "This is an exciting trial for SSE as it will give us a much clearer picture of the role of hydrogen for storing energy and as a clean fuel."

SSE, has the most diverse range of fuel sources amongst UK generators including 2,370MW of capacity for generating electricity from renewable energy sources, supplies electricity and gas to around 9.45m customers in Great Britain and Ireland, and is focused on the provision of reliable, sustainable energy.

It recently announced that it has developed 10 eco-homes in Slough, in a project designed to understand the changing role of the energy supplier in a low-carbon society.

SSE's involvement in joining the HOST programme will enable it to analyse the suitability of using green hydrogen to decarbonise its sizeable fleet, which regularly travels the length and breadth of the country.