Hydrogen – New REA report reinforces Freeport East’s lead role in driving UK transport decarbonisation and stresses …

Hydrogen - New REA report reinforces Freeport East's lead role in driving UK transport decarbonisation and stresses need for grid investment. The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has today published a new report[1] on Freeport East's Green Transport Hub Strategy. The Freeport East region, based around the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, is a major UK transport hub.

Decarbonisation of transport can enhance the Freeport's future competitive position and attract new investment in green transport technologies and resources. Pursuing a Green Transport Hub Strategy will allow the Freeport to maintain its position as a UK and international leader in transport decarbonisation. Freeport East is already well placed to pursue this strategy through the UK Government's energy transition plans which:

• For energy supplies, targets investment and growth in nearby offshore wind, low carbon hydrogen and nuclear power.
• For transport, targets an acceleration to zero emission surface vehicles and green fuels for shipping and aircraft.

The Freeport East region can leverage its existing position as a major UK transport hub with the energy transition to become a major UK and international 'Green Transport Hub'.

This is a valuable opportunity that should deliver major benefits to both local and national economies, and is already happening with a diversity of developments such as those announced by companies such as Rux Energy, RWE, Scottish Power and Green Firefly.

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Hydrogen Central is the global go-to online magazine for the hydrogen economy, we can help you host impactful webinars that become a global reference on your topic and are an evergreen source of leads. Click here to request more details[2] Steve Beel, Chief Executive, Freeport East, said: Decarbonising transport brings significant opportunities for inward investment; offering new jobs and skills as well as reducing the volatility and cost of our transport fuels.

"Freeport East, with significant transport flows across rail, road and sea, is a natural hub for the economies of scale required to support decarbonisation. "However, achieving this element of the energy transition will require significant investment in our grid network and renewable power supplies. This independent report provides a valuable basis for ensuring we deliver the power infrastructure across Freeport East that will drive the transition to large-scale electrification and cleaner fuels across our transport system."

But to achieve this goal, sufficient low-cost renewable energy supplies and associated networks must be available, plus a green fuel production, supply and storage chain. This will require significant investment and must be affordable in a highly competitive trade and transport marketplace. Also, the evolution to a 'Green Transport Hub' must be coordinated with other energy transition measures for power, heat, and transport across the region.

The report identifies four strategic themes key to achieve the 'Green Transport Hub' vision for Freeport East.

• Enhance electricity resources
• Enable hydrogen production
• Enable financing solutions
• Integrated resource planning and delivery

Access the full report here[3]. Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, CEO, REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) said: At a time when decarbonisation must move faster and across more sectors of our economy than ever before, it is fantastic to see an industry-leading coalition like Freeport East committing to the objective of becoming a Green Transport Hub.

The REA looks forward to working with stakeholders across industry and government to ensure the recommendations in the report are followed in full, and Freeport East's Green Transport Hub vision is realised." Jeremy Smith, Head of Hydrogen Business Development, RWE, said: As an organisation with big ambition to produce green hydrogen in the UK, we recognise the potential opportunities in the Freeport East region and we are keen to understand and work through the challenges.

Julia Pyke, Manging Director, Sizewell C said: Sizewell C welcomes Freeport East's plans to decarbonise transportation in the region and we look forward to continued collaboration throughout the development of the Green Transport Hub. Tom Williams, Deputy CEO at Maritime Transport, said:

It is essential that additional electrical power and alternative fuels are made available in in the Felixstowe area. Over the next 5 years Maritime will be operating at least 48 battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks as part of the Innovate UK/Department for Transport ZEHID trials as we move towards net zero. READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central[4]

Hydrogen - New REA report reinforces Freeport East's lead role in driving UK transport decarbonisation and stresses need for grid investment. source[5]

References

1. ^ new report (www.r-e-a.net)
2. ^ Click here to request more details (hydrogen-central.com)
3. ^ full report here (www.r-e-a.net)
4. ^ Hydrogen Central (hydrogen-central.com)
5. ^ source (freeporteast.com)