SCOTLAND-based Logan Energy has been awarded a £1.6 million contract by Translink to design and supply one of the largest capacity hydrogen refuelling stations ever built in Europe.
Subject to planning consents, it will be installed at Newtownabbey bus depot and will facilitate the roll-out of one of the UK’s biggest zero-emission bus orders in Belfast.
The fleet of 20 purpose-built hydrogen fuel cell buses are being introduced alongside a number of new battery electric vehicles, and will see Translink operating the fourth largest zero emission bus fleet in any UK region as it targets an entire zero-emission public transport fleet for Northern Ireland by 2040.
Logan, which has an impressive track record in delivering integrated hydrogen technologies, will maintain the refuelling station for up to 15 years and support ambitions to increase the number of vehicles using the site.
The refuelling station will have the capacity to dispense a minimum of 2,500 kg of green hydrogen a day, which will allow Translink to increase its fuel cell bus fleet in the future without the need to modify the refuelling station.
Bill Ireland, chief executive of Logan Energy, said: “This will be one of the largest capacity hydrogen refuelling stations in Europe. It’s a significant project in the upscaling of refuelling deployment in general and, specifically, our unique refuelling system for large volume economic fueling of vehicles.
“First deployed in Germany last year, our system allows us to provide lower cost refuelling options for large scale hydrogen refuelling stations.
“With the demand to switch to low-carbon transport systems greater than ever, this project will help push the accelerator not only on decarbonising Northern Ireland’s bus services, but also the demonstration of hydrogen as an efficient, economic and global zero-emission solution to the world’s transport challenges.”
Translink's director of service operations Ian Campbell said: “We are leading the transport transformation to net zero emissions, responding to the climate emergency and driving positive change for a healthier and more sustainable transport for future generations.
“The development of this hydrogen infrastructure is a further milestone in this exciting new era for Translink and is a further important first step in our net zero journey.”
Logan Energy will work with Translink and Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus to ensure compatibility and compliance with equipment and vehicles deployed across the project.
