A trial of four Wrightbus StreetDeck Hydroliner hydrogen fuel cell-electric buses at Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk was launched this week.
The three double-deckers and one single-decker are transporting workers at the under-construction site to test operational performance of the clean technology.
Wrightbus says a successful pilot scheme could lead to an order of 150 hydrogen buses from Sizewell, which would represent the UK largest fleet using that technology.
The project is also expected to place an order for battery-electric buses soon, the manufacturer says.
Wrightbus sister company Ryze Power is providing green hydrogen for the trial, which was awarded more than ÂŁ3m of government funding to test a mobile hydrogen refuelling system.
The buses will aid the decarbonisation targets of Sizewell C, with the project having pledged to deliver 60% of its construction materials by rail and sea.
Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, Joint Managing Directors of Sizewell C, say: “Sizewell C is going to power six million homes and play an important part in the UK’s energy security.
“We have an ambition to build in a way which is sustainable and reduces carbon emissions. It’s also a great opportunity to work with another UK business which is training young people for the jobs of the future.
“Nuclear has lots of benefits for hydrogen production, and as a fuel source hydrogen has the potential to make a significant difference to our project – reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality and limiting the impact of our workforce transport on the local area.
“If the trial goes as we hope, it could lead to a significant order of UK hydrogen buses, supporting homegrown UK business, and helping to kickstart the hydrogen economy in the East of England.”
The Directors add that it is their ultimate goal for all of its buses to be zero-emissions.
Jean-Marc Gales, Wrightbus CEO, adds: “We’re delighted to see this trial under way. Like Sizewell C, at Wrightbus we’re striving a zero-emission future.
“Wrightbus created the world’s first hydrogen double deck bus and is incredibly proud of the groundbreaking work it has done in the decarbonisation of the transport sector.
“We are unwavering in our commitment to hydrogen being part of the energy transition. We have an army of operators across the UK and Europe who realise that hydrogen meets their demands better than electricity. Indeed, for some rural routes electric buses are simply unable to cope. We always said hydrogen was for big and heavy machines and these buses are a perfect example of this in practice.
“All of our hydrogen buses are manufactured right here in the UK, creating thousands of skilled green jobs at our factory and thousands more across the supply chain, which means every bus purchased is a huge boost to the UK manufacturing sector.”
