alternative fuel

Sustainable hydrogen storage with G-Stor Hydrosphere

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Luxfer Gas Cylinders introduces an innovation in gas containment with an advanced hydrogen transportation system that maximizes efficiency

Luxfer Gas Cylinders has cemented its position as a world leader in gas containment solutions with the introduction of the G-Stor® Hydrosphere, a cutting-edge collection of Multiple Element Gas Containers (MEGCs) set to revolutionize how businesses can harness the power of hydrogen. Developed to support the safe and sustainable transportation of hydrogen via virtual gas pipelines, the high-capacity G-Stor® Hydrosphere range, which was launched during the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam, will help extend access to the clean gas as the hydrogen economy continues to gather pace.

Maximizing payload

Offering maximum capacity and energy delivery, the G-Stor® Hydrosphere range draws on Luxfer's trusted Type 4 (G-Stor® Go H2) cylinder technology. Available in 20-ft and 40-ft units, the MEGCs overcome infrastructure barriers currently facing the hydrogen supply chain by effectively allowing over 1 ton of hydrogen to be stored and transported. By maximizing payload, it provides the best price per kilogram of hydrogen.Nick Herbert, Sales and Marketing Director of Luxfer Gas Cylinders Europe, explains the significance of the innovation: “We believe this product range is revolutionary for the transportation of hydrogen. By using our G-Stor® Go Type 4 cylinders, which have a larger diameter, less cylinders are required to store the gas compared to other models on the market. That means our customers benefit from more efficient use of carbon fiber and reduced road weight, improving gas transportation efficiency.“We strongly believe that this virtual pipeline solution will truly make a difference to enabling the adoption of cleaner fuel.”

Connecting the dots

With standardized filling and discharge couplings, exemplary safety features (including the suitability for use in the UK, Europe and other regions), an unlimited service life with periodic inspection, the design completed in conjunction with ISO 668, a cylinder approval to EN 17339, and an approval to ADR 6.8, the G-Stor® Hydrosphere range ensures effortless and safe usage.Herbert adds: “For the potential of hydrogen to be truly realized, we need better infrastructure. Our work on virtual gas pipelines is instrumental in connecting the dots between hydrogen producers, transport and storage suppliers and consumption outlets. The launch of our G-Stor® Hydrosphere range is a milestone towards the wider adoption of sustainable energy.”The G-Stor® Hydrosphere range will be manufactured at Luxfer’s new purpose-built production facility at its Nottingham, UK, base.

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Luxfer Gas Cylinders Awarded Grant from Alberta Innovates for Innovative 700 Bar Type 4 Hydrogen Cylinder Development

RIVERSIDE, California – Luxfer Gas Cylinders, a division of Luxfer Holdings PLC (NYSE: LXFR), a global industrial company innovating niche applications in materials engineering, today announced the award of a clean technology grant from Alberta Innovates Hydrogen Centre of Excellence to support the development of an innovative Type 4 700 bar hydrogen cylinder.Under terms of the agreement, Luxfer will use the Alberta Innovates grant to develop an innovative polymer-lined high pressure hydrogen cylinder at its plant located in Calgary, Alberta that reduces the number of components and time to manufacture while also having the capability of storing gaseous pressure up to 700 bar (10,000 psi).Howard Mead, Vice President and General Manager of Luxfer Composite, notes: “Luxfer is excited to partner with Alberta Innovates on our next-generation Type 4 hydrogen cylinder development. This investment helps Luxfer demonstrate its commitment to innovative methods for hydrogen storage as well as to promote environmental sustainability."This next-generation Type 4 hydrogen cylinder will play a crucial role in growth markets requiring lightweight, high-volume hydrogen storage solutions such as fuel cell transit buses, heavy-duty trucks, vans, bulk gas transport, boats, and trains.PRESS CONTACT:Luxfer Gas Cylinders (USA and Global)Scott Andersonscott.anderson@luxfer.comTel: +1 336 306 8124About Luxfer Gas CylindersLuxfer Gas Cylinders is a leading manufacturer of high-pressure composite and aluminum cylinders. More than 70 million Luxfer cylinders in service around the world have an exemplary record for dependability and safety in a variety of applications, including firefighter and first-responder life support, medical, fire extinguishers, alternative fuel, specialty gas, beverage, aerospace, inflation, SCUBA and performance racing.An operating company of Luxfer Holdings PLC (NYSE:LXFR), Luxfer Gas Cylinders is based in Riverside, California, and has manufacturing facilities in the U.S., England, Canada, and China.www.luxfercylinders.com

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Hydrogen storage solutions for a cleaner future

Written by Keith Croysdale, Business Development Manager at Luxfer Gas Cylinders

The UK Government believes that hydrogen will provide between 20 to 35% of total final energy consumed across the nation by 2050. However, in order for hydrogen to support decarbonization, hydrogen producers must be connected to users. A paper recently published by the Hydrogen Energy Association (HEA) has highlighted the complexity of this issue.

Authored by the HEA’s Hydrogen Transportation and Storage Working Group, the report was entitled ‘The Role for Transport and Storage in Delivering the Hydrogen Transition’.

It calls on the Government to take accelerated action, so hydrogen can be maximized as part of the UK energy strategy. A key recommendation includes innovation around high-capacity virtual pipeline solutions. And with its recent investment in this area, Luxfer Gas Cylinders is uniquely placed to deliver on these ambitions with its hydrogen storage solutions expertise.

Bridging the gap between producers and users

A transition to hydrogen from non-renewable fuels and electric vehicle solutions is gathering pace. At the forefront of this, Luxfer Gas Cylinders is identifying ways to make the clean gas more viable in decades to come.

Considering that hydrogen availability will increase in the UK and Europe, being able to transport and store it is crucial. The objective is for hydrogen to safely and efficiently reach the businesses and operators that need it.

Individual areas of the supply chain are working in silo – despite being faced with common challenges around:- Funding- Regulation clarification- Supply chain delays- Limited gas production- Infrastructure constraints.

MEGCs – efficient hydrogen storage solutions and transportation solution

Putting our engineering prowess to the test, Luxfer Gas Cylinder has developed a way to connect hydrogen production, to hydrogen users, through a virtual gas pipeline. The result is efficient and high-capacity hydrogen cylinders, and Multiple Element Gas Containers (MEGCs).

Available in 20ft, 40ft and 45ft units, the MEGCs are available with Luxfer’s trusted G-Stor™ Pro Type 3 cylinder, or the lightweight G-Stor™ Go Type 4 technology at pressures up to 380bar (5511psi). Importantly, MEGCs tackle infrastructure barriers facing the hydrogen supply chain. They make it possible for up to 1.5 tonnes of the gas to be stored and transported efficiently.

Our alternative fuel design team developed an industry-leading level of hydrogen storage capacity into a product offering known as the G-Stor™ Hydrosphere. It represents one of our largest innovation projects.

A new, purpose-built production facility at our Nottingham site will produce the G-Stor™ Hydrospheres. Summer 2024 will see the very first units ready to be deployed.

This construction project represents Luxfer Gas Cylinders’ global mission -- making a difference to help create a safe, clean and energy efficient world.

A mobile and lightweight hydrogen storage solution to encourage adoption

Luxfer has made innovation core to its operation, exploring a myriad of new products and branching out into new markets since 1958.

During development of our MEGCs, our design team identified a gap in the market to support the hydrogen economy through virtual gas pipeline options for smaller quantities of gas.

This paved the way for our G-Stor™ Pro Bundle. It is a multiple cylinder package (MCP) comprised of a modular, interconnected system of cylinders – and an important stepping stone for the adoption of hydrogen fuel.

Drawing on Luxfer’s trusted Type 3 G-Stor™ H2 cylinders, nine interconnected cylinders are stacked horizontally. Due to the unique cylinder liner processing, which reduces weight and increases volume, they can store a larger volume of gas in a smaller footprint compared to other available options.

These cylinder packages, launched in 2023, offer mobility and portability, enabling hydrogen to be transported via trucks, ships, or rail to different locations. They are suitable for marine applications, construction vehicles, running generators or even to fill test vehicles where a refueller or large storage may be deemed too costly for the small amount of gas required to check a fuel cell is working correctly. The MCPs:- Have a lightweight, durable, high strength frame- Can be slotted into an existing structure and onto trucks or trailers seamlessly- Have custom panel artwork as an optional extra to display customer branding- Have a booster control skid, top mount lifting aid and over pressure valves included to deliver safe operation throughout the life cycle of the product- Reduce the need to manage cylinder stocks and eliminate time lost in cylinder changeover and handling, as well as gas wastage.In fact, two G-Stor™ Pro Bundles will be used at Nottingham UK site soon, replacing our existing rental model to feed our manufacturing press. Introducing this solution into our operation demonstrates Luxfer’s commitment to minimising our own environmental impact.

Our role in the future of hydrogen storage solutions

The hydrogen industry is fast-moving. But at Luxfer we have a decades-long legacy, working with hydrogen technology when it was an outlier and it was impossible to predict the direction it would take.

While some uncertainty remains, we believe the future of hydrogen transportation will involve a combination of physical pipelines and virtual pipeline alternatives such as MCPs and MEGCs. We expect each solution will be utilised on different parts of the supply chain, meeting diverse needs in the evolving hydrogen economy.

An expanding physical pipeline, we anticipate, is unlikely to result in a retraction of the virtual pipeline. Instead, a redeployment of virtual pipeline solutions will best service the first and final miles of distribution.

What is clear is further policy planning is needed to pave the way for hydrogen to fulfil its potential for net zero. The HEA are championing this. For our part, Luxfer will continue to lend its expertise to debates. After all, with our engineering excellence and proven track record in world-leading alternative fuel solutions, we’re well placed to do so.

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US road and rail operators harnessing hydrogen fuel thanks to Luxfer

by Scott Anderson, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Luxfer Gas Cylinders USHere in the United States, we’ve seen a real focus on transitioning to sustainable energy. In fact, the advancement and deployment of hydrogen technologies has been supported with allocated funding into research, development, and infrastructure.This includes incentives by the US federal government. In 2021, it committed around $11 billion through legislation including the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). A year later came the Inflation Reduction Act.At the end of January 2023, it was estimated that around 170 hydrogen projects existed in North American. This accounts for approximately 15% of the total announced projects globally. By 2030, it’s expected that 135 will be fully or partially commissioned by 2030, representing $46 billion of committed direct investment in hydrogen value chains.As alternative fuels and particularly hydrogen fuel systems continue to be a high-growth market for us, we are paying close attention to how the market continues to expand and innovate in North America.Realizing the potential of hydrogenThe US has considerable potential to dominate the hydrogen production landscape thanks to factors including:- Ample production resources- Over 1,600 miles of hydrogen pipelines- Three caverns which can store thousands of tons of product- Eight liquefaction plants spread nationwide.However, there is still some way to go to make hydrogen more accessible. This is why our alternative fuel experts have been working hard to address the hydrogen infrastructure deficit by developing bulk gas transport systems (BGT).Until dedicated hydrogen pipelines are established across North America, BGT or ‘virtual gas pipelines’ can bridge the gap. Our Multiple Element Gas Containers (MEGCs) for example, are being used in Europe. They have the capacity to store up to 1.5 tonnes of gas. BGT solutions will play a vital supporting role in the US if the proposed green hydrogen-producing hubs come into effect. Energy companies will be able to rely on our hydrogen cylinders to ensure optimum safety and efficiency when moving hydrogen by road or rail.That is why we’re so pleased to be collaborating with long-term partner and renowned hydrogen specialists, BayoTech. BayoTech’s HyFill™ bulk transport trailers incorporate Luxfer’s high-capacity Type 3 composite cylinders. This produces a cutting-edge hydrogen storage system with maximized efficiency and payload. Using our Type 3 hydrogen cylinders means that more sites can be refueled from each trailer, reducing transportation costs and improving driver productivity.BayoTech recently announced a new strategic supply agreement with a major OEM - yet more evidence of the fast-growing hydrogen economy and exciting collaborations between pioneering companies, like Luxfer, in this sector. As a result of this partnership, hydrogen will be produced at BayoTech’s network of hubs. These will then fuel Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks - with BayoTech’s HyFill bulk hydrogen transport trailers transporting the gas across the country in Luxfer’s Type 3 high pressure cylinders.It’s also encouraging to hear the news that 60 refueling stations will be established by 2026 – which will provide simple and reliable access to hydrogen nationwide. This will be particularly encouraging for operators who are looking to transition towards clean fuels, but hold reservations about hydrogen availability and infrastructure.We have noticed a distinction between the European hydrogen storage market and the US. In Europe there is strong demand for MEGCs. Whereas, in the US emphasis is on smaller capacity pods, which can connect hydrogen hubs via 20-foot trailers. To meet such requirements, we can supply 25 cylinders per pod, operating at 517 bar – this is the ideal pressure to minimize trailer price and reduce the amount of compression required at filling stations.

Driving sustainability on the roadIn the US, transportation is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases (27%). It is also responsible for 21% of total carbon emissions worldwide. Therefore, decarbonization of the transport industry is critical – and hydrogen is quickly taking on a significant role.Luxfer is proud to already be involved in a variety of hydrogen transport projects, providing its trusted, lightweight and high-performance cylinders for a range of applications, including:- Working with A-1 Alternative Fuels and U.S Hybrid on hydrogen fuel cell shuttle buses.- Working with our customers on hydrogen transit bus projects to help California’s bus fleets become greener.As for HGVs, we have observed growing interest for prototypes, and we remain prepared with a variety of hydrogen storage solutions, as hydrogen access proliferates, and more operators are encouraged to make the switch.Full steam ahead for railCalifornia is widely known as a hub for green transport. From 2030 the state government will be implementing complex curbs on emissions for rail operators. Many locomotive engines, of tier four or lower, will not qualify under the new requirements and so operators must make tough choices – most immediately for short-haul journeys.Luxfer has unrivalled experience in helping to adapt existing equipment to utilize hydrogen. For example, in 2020 when CPKC (formerly Canadian Pacific) declared plans to develop North America’s first line-haul hydrogen-powered locomotive by retrofitting a diesel freight locomotive, they incorporated our new, lightweight G-Stor™ Go Type 4 cylinder technology in their prototype. The responses we received on this project, our first hydrogen Type 4 product, were brilliant.It’s also very promising to see that CPKC is continuing to expand hydrogen transport, marking its Calgary and Edmonton rail yards as sites for new production refueling stations.We’ve also successfully collaborated with multiple US-based rail operators who are leading the way on clean transport, such as Sierra Northern Railway (SERA) via Optifuel Systems LLC. One of our current projects will introduce two line-haul locomotives with a range of over 1,000 miles thanks to a Luxfer hydrogen system.In a mission to decarbonize the industry, our global network has been developing hydrogen fuel systems for trains for some time. In 2019, Luxfer Gas Cylinders was a major partner in bringing the UK’s first hydrogen-powered train to fruition.The HydroFLEX project utilized a former Thameslink electric train, retrofitted to run using a hydrogen fuel system. This was achieved through a close collaboration between Luxfer’s Nottingham-based alternative fuel experts, Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Railway Research. In September 2020 the HydroFLEX, using Luxfer G-Stor™ H2 cylinders, hit the mainline for the first time.Hot on its heels is the HydroFLEX’s successor, which began development in 2020. It includes a system containing more than 275kg of hydrogen. The train has quadruple the power of the original HydroFLEX, hitting speeds of over 80mph in UK mainline testing.

Trailblazing technologyLuxfer entered the alternative fuel sector in 2001 with our very first Natural Gas system. Fast forward 15 years and 11,000 Natural Gas systems later, and we have built an industry-leading reputation for expertise and innovation in the sector. As leaders in cylinder technology, we recently introduced our G-Stor™ Go H2 cylinder with Type 4 technology to the North American market. The high-pressure cylinder can hold high storage volumes whilst remaining lightweight. The range is available in three sizes, from 14.5 to 19.1kg of hydrogen storage, and is capable of storage pressures up to 350 bar (5,000 PSI). Its proven boss-to-liner interface results in minimal permeation, making it a certified, cost-effective hydrogen storage solution ideal for long range rail, boats and other vehicles.Whilst our Type 4 cylinders are an excellent solution for large storage, at Luxfer we are technology neutral. Therefore, if fast fill is critical our G-Stor™Pro Type 3 is a brilliant option. Although our Luxfer-manufactured aluminium liner, fully wrapped with aerospace-grade carbon fibre, makes for a heavier product, the Type 3 technology allows for all the hydrogen involved in the system can to be used, with no wastage. We see this as one of Luxfer’s greatest strengths - our ability to meet each of our customers’ bespoke requirements.

The future’s greenLuxfer remains, at 125-years-old and with an 80-year legacy in gas containment, at the very cutting edge of the green energy transition. Having spent over 20 years developing hydrogen solutions to fuel buses, trucks, trains, marine vessels, refuse vehicles and more, today we continue with a mission to widen access to, and applications for, hydrogen energy.Our future is very bright. The Luxfer team in the US has been receiving an increasing number of road, rail and bulk gas transport inquiries over the last three years. We have confidence in our applications and the excellence of our global team, which has delivered world-leading projects, to meet and exceed expectations in these areas.Luxfer’s proprietary cylinder technology and demonstrated alternative fuel expertise, is poised to play a leading part in developing the gas containment solutions of tomorrow.

McKinsey & Company https://www.c2es.org/content/regulating-transportation-sector-carbon-emissions/

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Hydrogen storage: Making waves in the shipping sector

By Howard Mead, Vice-President and General Manager, Luxfer Gas Cylinders CompositeWhether by land, air, or sea, there is no doubt that alternative fuels have an important role to play in transforming and decarbonising the transportation sector. In fact, if urgent measures aren’t taken to move away from fossil fuels, CO2 from the shipping sector, which currently accounts for 3% global greenhouse gas emissions, could increase to 50% by 2050. Considering this, the need for reliable and renewable clean energy has never been greater. Hydrogen is a key contender in driving transformation. And, unsurprisingly, there have been increasing enquiries in recent years from marine industry stakeholders keen to explore the fuel’s potential applications.In pursuit of net zeroFor the maritime sector to reach net zero by 2050, global collaboration and cooperation is required. To this end, commercial operators around the globe are aiming to use zero-emissions vessels as early as 2030.It truly is a case of ‘all hands on deck’. All stakeholders, from ship operators to hydrogen fuel infrastructure developers and fuel cell system integrators, which include hydrogen storage cylinders, working together in pursuit of this goal.In fact, several hydrogen hubs are being established at major ports around the globe. Striving to be climate neutral by 2050, and with the goal of becoming Europe’s leading import hub for green hydrogen, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is investing heavily in infrastructure, such as onshore hydrogen storage bunkers.Similar efforts are taking place at other ports around the globe. In North America, the Texan Port of Corpus Christi is considering a new pipeline and a green fuels hub as part of its green hydrogen production development plans. Meanwhile, Japan’s Port of Kobe features the country’s first hydrogen import terminal with plans to further develop its hydrogen storage, import and supply infrastructure.Of course, the benefits of hydrogen fuel aren’t limited to use on vessels; powering other port activities, such as removing cargo, with hydrogen has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Drayage truck applications utilising fuel cells have already been introduced at the Port of Los Angeles and a hydrogen fuel cell-powered reach stacker is being tested at MSC Terminal Valencia.At Luxfer Gas Cylinders we support transport operators who want to harness alternative fuel as part of their sustainability strategies. Considering not only the innovative projects being developed, but those already implemented, the 2050 goal certainly seems achievable.The clean fuel challengeAlthough hydrogen is just one of several solutions to consider on the road to net zero, it has a crucial contribution to make to the shipping industry. Leading the charge in unlocking hydrogen’s potential across the maritime sector, among others, is the US Department of Energy’s (DoE) Hydrogen Shot. It is an initiative with a clear goal – to bring down the cost of clean hydrogen by 80%, to $1 per 1kg in one decade (“1 1 1”).Additionally, in its National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, the DoE has set ambitious production targets. It is hoping to produce 10 million tonnes of clean hydrogen per year by 2030, 20 million tonnes per year by 2040, and 50 million tonnes per year by 2050.However, given that more than 95% of the 10 million tonnes currently produced by the US annually is grey, the move towards producing clean fuel is not without its challenges.To boost the production of clean hydrogen and stimulate new markets, several initiatives have been launched and policies and investments announced as part of both the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.In addition to the introduction of tax credits intended to lower the cost of clean hydrogen production by paying producers depending on the levels of emissions and staff wages, a $9.5bn investment in clean hydrogen development has been announced. This will enable the creation of regional clean hydrogen hubs and the advancement of the Hydrogen Electrolysis Program.However, despite these efforts to overcome some of the financial barriers to clean hydrogen take-up, a lack of infrastructure remains. For example, the US has just 1,600 miles of hydrogen pipeline compared to around three million miles of CNG pipeline. This makes it challenging to transport green hydrogen, at scale, from where it is produced to where it is needed.Innovative hydrogen storage solutionsInfrastructure is not the only obstacle to the roll-out of hydrogen fuel solutions across the global shipping sector; storage also poses a significant challenge. Both the amount of hydrogen needed by seafaring vessels and a fuel system big enough to power such ships, take up valuable space.Luxfer continues to lead the way with solutions to support the transition to clean fuel. Having supplied alternative fuel cylinders worldwide since 2007, we have established a reputation for innovation and expertise in this market. In fact, our cylinders have helped several customers bring prototypes and early proof of concept hydrogen systems that can power a range of both marine and on-road vehicles, to life.One example is Energy Observer, a floating laboratory launched in 2017. It is the world’s first vessel to both generate and be powered by hydrogen. Using a system supplied by Luxfer, the vessel creates hydrogen fuel by sucking up sea water and removing the salt and minerals before passing it through an electrolyser, which breaks it down into hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen is released and hydrogen is compressed and kept in two storage facilities. It can store 62kg of hydrogen, the equivalent of two megawatts of energy and the annual consumption of an average household – on either side of the ship. Energy Observer is currently in the seventh year of its zero emissions journey around the world to explore practical solutions and develop new technologies to accelerate the energy transition.G-Stor H2 hydrogen cylindersOf particular importance to the shipping sector are Luxfer’s complete ‘plug and play’ systems featuring our G-Stor™ H2 hydrogen cylinders. The newest addition to the range is the G-Stor™ Go H2 hydrogen cylinder with Type 4 technology. Its key features include:- Maximisation of gas capacity, from 14.5 to 19.1kg- Lightweight carbon composite for improved fuel economy- Varying dimensions to suit a range of applications- Polymer lining to ensure gas-tight storage- Ability to withstand storage pressures up 350 bar (5,000 PSI)- Minimal permeation due to proven boss-to-liner interfaceThe G-Stor™ Go H2 is a certified, cost-effective hydrogen storage solution ideal for fuel cell transit boats and small marine vessels, as well as other vehicles such as trucks, vans and trains.There is no doubt that alternative fuels have a significant role to play in transforming and decarbonising the transportation sector on land, air, and sea. Zero emissions won’t happen overnight, but with innovative solutions supporting the sector in reducing emissions and adopting alternative fuels, it’s not hard to see how greener marine solutions are on the horizon.

References1) https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/green-hydrogen-and-green-shipping/

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Clean fuel pioneers join forces to make 150-strong hydrogen powered bus fleet a reality

Luxfer Gas Cylinders collaborate with Ricardo on zero-emissions double decker, trialled in Brighton following Teesside tests An ambition to deploy 150 zero-emissions hydrogen powered buses on UK routes by 2024 could be a step closer, thanks to a partnership between Luxfer Gas Cylinders and global engineering consultants Ricardo.Joining forces for the first time, world-leading gas cylinder manufacturer Luxfer supplied its alternative fuel expertise to Ricardo, supplying a fit-for-purpose hydrogen storage solution for a Stagecoach North East prototype double decker bus.The hydrogen powered bus, which was converted from a diesel engine to run on fuel cell technology, underwent trials in Teesside for six weeks, before being put through its paces on hilly routes around Brighton and Hove.The project, part funded by the Department for Transport, through its Hydrogen Transport Hub Demonstration competition, aims to demonstrate the benefits of hydrogen as a sustainable passenger transport option by extending the life of existing diesel buses.Nick Herbert, Sales and Marketing Director at Luxfer Gas Cylinders, explains: “Supporting the UK transport sector’s shift from diesel and petrol to more sustainable fuels means we need to offer options that are not only clean and green, but commercially viable too. Many operators who have invested in diesel vehicles are now left with stock that has a much shortened lifespan. Retrofitting buses to run on hydrogen makes sense, and at Luxfer we have the capability to work with partners to bring bespoke projects to fruition.“Companies, like Ricardo, are making strides in adopting hydrogen technology, and we’re proud of our role in providing the right environment for others to do the same.”Ricardo is showcasing the hydrogen fuel cell re-powered vehicle to operators, seeking to offer it at around half the price of a new bus. The aim is to secure 50% match funding investment plus customer commitment for an initial production of 150 buses that could enter service from late 2024.Andrew Ennever, Head of Electrification, at Ricardo, said: “This project has real potential to support bus operators in their environmental strategies. With an excellent track record in the sector, we chose to partner with Luxfer because their hydrogen cylinders best aligned with the design we had in mind, and the team had experience of supplying this product to other bus manufacturers for conversion projects.“Timescales were also important. We needed a tight turnaround and Luxfer were able to get what we needed quickly, providing support to design and manufacture the cylinder frames for a complete H2 delivery system.”The vehicle features Luxfer’s proprietary G-Stor™ H2 cylinders, as part of a five-cylinder system within a bespoke modular frame, holding 24.5kg of hydrogen.The prototype has a fuel consumption of 17km/kg (5.88kg/100km) of hydrogen and produces zero emissions when using green hydrogen. This consumption is comparable with current production FC buses, with further improvements possible in the production phase. Ricardo estimates 45,000kg of carbon dioxide emissions can be avoided by extending the life of existing buses rather than building from new.Nick concluded: “This is an exciting project and we hope it is successful in convincing operators of the value in conversions, because retrofitting fleets will support the hydrogen infrastructure to scale up incrementally, which is critical.“While the hydrogen economy is now gathering pace, this is not a new area for Luxfer – we’ve been pioneering gas storage solutions for 80 years and we can bring this legacy to bear on hydrogen systems for a whole range of applications.”Luxfer’s alternative fuel expertise has been commissioned for a raft of world-first hydrogen transport projects. These include the UK’s first retro-fitted hydrogen trains, HydroFLEX 1&2, the world’s first commercial hydrogen truck fleet with Hyundai, the world’s first hydrogen tractor, 70 hydrogen double-decker buses operating across the UK, including Aberdeen and London, and Energy Observer – the world’s first self-powered sailing boat.