Wrightbus and Hygen Energy, its sister company, have proposed the development of a green hydrogen production facility at Wrightbus’ Ballymena factory. Wrightbus currently manufactures hydrogen-powered buses, some of which are used by Translink. The proposed facility will provide a dependable fuel source for these buses and other hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Jo Bamford, chairman of Wrightbus, said: “Hydrogen is the best means of decarbonising many bus routes, but for this to happen bus operators need a reliable and voluminous supply of low cost, low carbon hydrogen.
“This project will initially be able to produce enough hydrogen to run up to 300 buses, and has the potential to triple in scale as demand for hydrogen increases.
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“We hope it will set an example for how these projects will be designed and built.”
Hygen Energy is working on a similar project in Bradford, in northern England, aimed at producing green hydrogen. Currently, the majority of the hydrogen sold in the UK is derived from natural gas through a process that emits carbon dioxide.
In contrast, green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, which separates water into oxygen and hydrogen using renewable electricity. The hydrogen can then be used on-site or transported to where it is needed. Given that hydrogen does not emit carbon when burned, it is viewed as a promising alternative to fossil fuels in heavy industries such as steel and cement-making, as well as in heavy vehicles.
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The proposed source of renewable energy for the electrolyzer in Ballymena is still under consideration, with options including purchasing it from existing renewable generators or developing new renewable capacity such as wind or solar.
