Tower Group is leading a consortium to deliver the Exeter H2 Hub – a 5MW facility that will power the growth of a hydrogen sector in the South West.
The plant, which should be operational with mobile refuelling capacity in East Devon by 2026, will deliver hydrogen to fuel cell electric vehicles owned by consortium member, Wales & West Utilities (WWU), as well as other utilities companies and local councils. The hub will also be used to explore how low carbon hydrogen can be used to decarbonise industry in the area.
The refuelling station will be open to third parties, including the general public and private sector, all with the aim of encouraging the growth of the hydrogen economy in the region.
From initial modelling, Tower Group revealed the pilot plant could expand significantly because of demand from utilities companies alone. Working with WWU, the University of Exeter’s Centre for Future Clean Mobility, Emotive, Oort Energy, Costain and Gardiner & Theobald, Tower Group wants to catalyse organic hydrogen growth to benefit the whole of the South West by proving the viability of the pilot.
It will also explore further opportunities for hydrogen in the South West, such as through the capture of secondary heat and direct offtake to industrial users.
