PHOTO: East Midlands Hydrogen co-Chair Will Morlidge presenting at the ‘Hydrogen Rail in the Midlands’ conference, held at Alstom, Derby
The UK is committed to decarbonise its rail sector by 2040 but it is currently running behind other transport sectors. Electrification is the primary solution to achieve this, but it is expensive with elongated timescales and isn’t financially feasible on various rail routes. Battery and hydrogen trains could therefore offer a critical interim or permanent alternative where electrification isn’t affordable, either in the near or long-term future.
The Midlands is key to delivering these zero-emission trains of the future. The region hosts the UK’s largest rail industry hub including key battery and hydrogen rolling stock developers such as Alstom, Porterbrook, Eversholt and Siemens. It is clear that the opportunity to rapidly accelerate the development of zero emission rail, including battery, hydrogen and hybrid options, is very important to the region.
This opportunity was discussed at the Hydrogen Rail in the Midlands conference, supported by HyDEX. At this event, which took place last week (22 March) in Derby at the site of multi-national rolling stock manufacturer, Alstom, delegates were given an insight into the opportunities that hydrogen can offer.
East Midlands Hydrogen co-Chair, Will Morlidge, was invited to be a keynote speaker at the conference and updated delegates on East Midlands Hydrogen, which is set to become the UK’s largest inland hydrogen cluster, and will accelerate the development of, and attract investment to, the rapidly growing hydrogen ecosystem in our region.
Will said:
“I was delighted to present to delegates at the ‘Hydrogen Rail in the Midlands’ conference. A key priority for our region is transitioning industry to sustainable green energy solutions. East Midlands Hydrogen, a partnership that I co-chair, now has over 60 members in all aspects of the hydrogen value chain, and is already demonstrating the huge value of collaboration in our drive to de-carbonise industry.”
The other keynote speaker at the conference was Professor Martin Freer, Director of HyDEX and the Energy Research Accelerator, who presented on the findings of the HyDEX report: ‘The Midlands Hydrogen Rail Study – Landscaping of Hydrogen Rail Opportunities across the Midlands.’
Will’s presentation can be accessed here
D2N2 LEP is the lead partner, alongside Cadent, for East Midlands Hydrogen.
If you are interested in joining the consortium, please contact [email protected]
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East Midlands Hydrogen is a new, industry-led initiative that will boost the energy revolution in the East Midlands by growing the UK’s largest inland hydrogen cluster. Plans for regional hydrogen production, distribution and industrial use are gathering momentum and East Midlands Hydrogen will support and accelerate these plans, supporting decarbonisation of industry, mobility and power generation.
For media enquiries, contact:
Nicola Swaney
Head of External Affairs, D2N2 LEP