COP 29 talks highlight East Midlands climate action. Carbon-free supply chain, developed in Loughborough, revealed
- East Midlands hydrogen expertise in the spotlight as COP 29 climate conference gets underway in Baku, Azerbaijan (11–22 Nov)
- Loughborough-based Intelligent Energy reveals its hydrogen fuel cell products that decarbonise supply chains
- Switching to hydrogen-powered HGVs could mitigate 19 million tons of CO₂ in the UK*
- More hydrogen infrastructure needed to start the cycle of growth that could generate thousands of manufacturing jobs in the Midlands
Loughborough, UK – 11 November 2024 – As world leaders gather in Baku for COP29 talks, Intelligent Energy is focused on action, and today reveals how its pioneering hydrogen fuel cell technology will drive decarbonization across UK supply chains and beyond.
Based in Loughborough, at the heart of the East Midlands Hydrogen Cluster, Intelligent Energy has been advancing clean hydrogen technology for more than 25 years. With more than 150 employees, 600 patents, and the capacity to produce 6,000 fuel cells per year, the company is primed to scale hydrogen-powered solutions in sectors including automotive, aerospace and power generation.
Intelligent Energy’s fuel cells can power the entire product journey from production line to end user. Products include a world-first, hydrogen-powered HGV truck, warehousing and material handling machinery, and a delivery drone – creating a fully carbon-free supply chain.
Key Products:
ICEBreaker: A 44-tonne hydrogen fuel cell-powered HGV truck. In the UK, HGVs account for 17% of all transport-related greenhouse gas emissions (about 19 million metric tons of CO₂ in 2023)*. Switching to hydrogen fuel could make significant progress toward net-zero. Project ICEBreaker was delivered with funding from the Department for Business and Trade through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC).
Warehouse and Material Handling: A zero-emission access platform by Niftylift and a Yale warehouse forklift, both powered by Intelligent Energy fuel cells for extended runtimes and increased productivity.
Delivery: A fuel cell-powered drone that flies three times further than battery-powered alternatives, offering a more sustainable option for last-mile delivery.
Intelligent Energy is leading the UK’s push into hydrogen alongside other regional players, positioning the UK at the forefront of a new industrial revolution.
To maintain this lead, however, a clear policy framework and robust hydrogen refuelling infrastructure are essential. Without this, the UK risks falling behind, especially as the EU is set to install hydrogen refuelling stations every 200 kilometres along the Trans-European Transport Network by 2030.
David Woolhouse, CEO of Intelligent Energy, said: “With COP29 underway, climate change is once again in the global spotlight. The UK has the potential to lead in hydrogen fuel cell technology, and today we are showcasing immediate applications – developed and manufactured in the East Midlands – for reducing CO₂ emissions in the supply chain.
“For the UK to stay at the forefront of hydrogen innovation, we need policies and infrastructure to build investor and consumer confidence. Companies like ours need affordable and abundant hydrogen fuel to start the cycle of growth that could generate thousands more manufacturing jobs here in the UK.
“The recent UK budget announcement of £2bn for hydrogen projects is a promising start, showing the intent to keep pace with the global hydrogen economy.”
Dr. Jeevun Sandher, MP for Loughborough and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hydrogen, voiced his support for Intelligent Energy’s efforts:
“Now is the perfect time to leverage the potential of hydrogen fuel, supporting innovative businesses and high-skilled jobs. The East Midlands is a hub of hydrogen innovation, and the UK has the chance to lead in this green technology. The products developed by Intelligent Energy provide greater awareness of the role hydrogen can play to secure the net-zero future the world is targeting.”
Join us in powering the hydrogen future®️.
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Steve Webb
E: steve.webb@groupwhistle.com
T: +44 7899 065985
*Source: UK Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
About Intelligent Energy Limited
Intelligent Energy is a leader in the development and manufacture of cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cells that overcome the limitations of conventional battery-powered systems.
The privately-owned company, which has 600 patents in place, has been innovating for more than two decades in the automotive, aerospace, power generation, telecoms, materials handling and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sectors.