Ballymena bus manufacturer Wrightbus has secured a contract which could see 150 hydrogen buses sold to the Sizewell C nuclear plant in Suffolk.
The site has ordered four of the company’s double deck Hyrdoliners to test if they are suitable to be used to transport the thousands of workers who will work on the construction of the new power station.
If successful, Sizewell C will order up to 150 buses and become one of operator of one of the world’s largest hydrogen bus fleets.
The deal is the latest in the hydrogen space for Wrightbus and its sister company Ryze, also owned by JCB heir Jo Bamford, is also working with Sizewell C to pioneer the use of hydrogen-powered construction equipment at the site. Ryze has just been awarded more than £3 million in Ƶ government funding to test a mobile hydrogen refuelling system.
“Once it starts generating, Sizewell C will be one of the biggest generators of low carbon electricity in the country,” Julia Pyke, Joint Managing Director of Sizewell C, said. “Our plans for hydrogen buses show we are determined that the construction of the power station will also be as clean as possible.
“A hydrogen fleet will lower our carbon emissions and reduce the impact of workforce transport on local communities. At the same time, I am excited that we will potentially kickstart a market for this important low-carbon fuel in the East of England.”
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, said hydrogen has huge potential to decarbonise the global public transport sector.
“We are delighted to be working with Sizewell C on this pilot and the fact that it could lead to a fleet of up to 150 hydrogen buses is testament to the potential hydrogen has for both passenger transport and construction sites in general.
