ITM Power has officially launched its third public access hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) and its second in London at the Centre of Engineering Manufacturing Excellence CEME, in Rainham East London.

The HRS was opened to the public by Bill Williams, CEO of CEME, and Prof Roger Putnam CBE, chairman of ITM Power. The opening was supported by car manufacturers, who also presented and participated in a Q&A session.

The station is the first of its kind using solar energy from a solar array at CEME to make renewable hydrogen on-site and is the second of three UK stations to be deployed as part of the pan European HyFive project, which was funded by the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCHJU) and the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

Bill Williams, CEO, The Centre of Engineering Manufacturing Excellence CEME, said: “As London’s Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence, CEME is very proud to be able to offer a site for this hydrogen fuel station and utilise our solar energy to make a fuel for vehicles. It is perfectly located to offer a clean hydrogen source for London and improve air quality for London”.

Paul Van der Burgh, Toyota (GB) PLC president and managing director, welcomed the opening of ITM Power’s new filling station. He said: “This new facility demonstrates the growing momentum in the development of a new hydrogen fuel infrastructure in the UK. This is good news for customers who are keen to adopt the new technology and for the manufacturers of zero-emissions fuel cell vehicles, such as our Mirai saloon.”

Sue Graham Johnston, managing director, BOC UK, Ireland and Africa said: “BOC is proud to continue to work with ITM Power in the development of a hydrogen refuelling network in the UK. This is the third deployment of our innovative refuelling station technology with ITM Power this year, with the installation at CEME (Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence) another milestone in making hydrogen a truly accessible clean fuel in and around London".

Dr Graham Cooley, CEO, ITM Power, commented: “We are extremely pleased to have launched the second of the company’s HyFive hydrogen refuelling stations in London providing a link across the city for hydrogen vehicles.”