Fuel cells

DEFINITION: A device that converts chemical energy into electricity through a chemical reaction. Fuel cells can produce electricity for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied, and produce very small amount of nitrogen dioxide or other emissions. The technology can be used to power commercial, industrial and residential buildings, in addition to fuel cell vehicles.

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The report says hydrogen has the potential to fulfil a number of key roles, including heating homes, fuelling vehicles, feeding industrial processes and storing up excess renewable electricity

Call for government to 'step up' support for hydrogen

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has called on the government to "step up" its support for the use of hydrogen to decarbonise the energy system across power, heat and transport.
Earlier this week, a consortium including ITM Power and Shell won £8.8m to improve access to an expanded network of hydrogen refuelling stations. Photo: ITM

Shell opens first-of-its-kind hydrogen refuelling station

Shell has unveiled a new hydrogen refuelling station at one of the UK's busiest service stations, in the same week as the Government delivered multi-million-pound funding for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.

Bright Ideas: 10 of the best green innovations for the earth

Welcome to the future of sustainable business. This edie Insight report showcases 10 of the best trailblazing products and initiatives that hold the potential to help us achieve Mission Possible: a sustainable future for our planet.
The Mirai are expected to do the same average mileage as other cars on the Green Tomato Cars fleet – around 130-150 miles a day

Green Tomato Cars scales up Toyota Mirai fuel cell fleet

London-based green private hire firm Green Tomato Cars has taken up 50 new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric saloons.
The aim of the trial is to provide practical evidence that a hydrogen-blended gas can be integrated without disrupting gas services to customers

In Practice: The UK's Northern hydrogen heating grid trial

In a UK first, a pioneering new green gas trial is being demonstrated at Keele University that aims to inject zero-carbon hydrogen into the natural gas network.
Gathering dust: Sustainability reporting experts are in agreement that annual CSR updates need to become a much more integral part of business strategy

Is it time to kill off the standalone sustainability report?

This week's Smarter Sustainability Reporting conference saw a number of industry experts discuss the evolution of the sustainability report, with some going so far as to argue that an individual annual report no longer carries the necessary impetus to drive change. So, is the age of the standalone sustainability report finally over?

The UK city of Leeds has proposed converting its natural gas grid to a hydrogen grid by 2026

Are we a step closer to achieving the 'green hydrogen economy'?

Paint and chemicals giant AkzoNobel has unveiled plans to build Europe's largest "green hydrogen" production plant, with the company's energy director telling edie of the technology's potential to enable the decarbonisation of the UK economy.

Taking the lead on energy: 10 business examples of low-carbon innovation

The global energy system is undergoing a radical transition. Renewable energy costs are tumbling and new approaches to energy management such as battery storage and demand response are offering new ways for organisations to operate more sustainably.

Public sector bodies: Is now the time to monitor, analyse and manage your energy consumption?

Businesses and Public sector bodies spend the equivalent of £22bn on energy every year. Yet it is often overlooked by these organisations, who lack the knowledge of how much they are consuming or even potentially wasting.
Total back-up capacity needed in 2040 is expected to remain at 2017 levels of 70GW

Balancing act: Storage and flexible energy vital to UK’s renewables tipping point

The cost of generating energy from wind and solar in the UK is expected to halve by 2040, but the expected future power system volatility will lead to more economic opportunities for flexible energy sources and storage capacity.
Real-world drivers using the technology have reported up to 20% improvement in fuel efficiency

New hydrogen technology could slash engine emissions by 80%

A British manufacturer has launched a new hydrogen additive technology that can reportedly reduce engine emissions by as much as 80% and offer up to a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency.
GM will introduce two new all-electric vehicles over the next 18 months based off learnings from the Chevrolet Bolt EV

General Motors commits to 'all-electric fleet'

General Motors (GM) has outlined a vision for an all-electric fleet which includes a two-pronged approach of developing battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Towards a sustainable economy

CISL and its recently formed Rewiring the Economy Inquiry Group published its latest report ‘Towards a sustainable economy’, to identify new business approaches that can drive progress towards the SDGs.

One of the principle aims of the site is to develop new solutions that help consumers decarbonise their utilities and homes

£30m Gateshead research facility to test zero-carbon integrated energy solutions

Ambitions for a zero-carbon energy network are a step closer to reality, after Northern Gas Networks (NGN) launched the UK's first fully-integrated research and development facility to test low-carbon business solutions for transport, electricity, and gas.
The Suzuki scooters have a range of 75 miles

Metropolitan Police trials hydrogen scooter

The UK's largest police service is seeking to combat London's toxic air crisis through the trial of a hydrogen fuel cell scooter as a patrol vehicle.
Ofgem figures show that innovation by energy networks has already enabled close to £1bn of cost savings that will be delivered between now and 2023

UK networks to fuse innovation plans for low-carbon technologies

The UK's energy network firms have teamed up to develop joint proposals to create "exciting opportunities" for smart technologies such as hydrogen and battery storage.

edie spoke with Shirley Rodrigues to get under the skin of City Hall’s bold plan to make London

London's new Environment Strategy: Five key questions answered

As London Mayor Sadiq Khan puts forward a long-term vision to make the capital one of the greenest cities in the world, edie speaks with Khan's Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy Shirley Rodrigues to discuss how City Hall aims to put its ambitious plans into practice.
Pee Power has been given a prime location just a few hundred metres from the Pyramid stage

Pee Power: Glastonbury displays to run on festival-goers' urine

Festival-goers at Glastonbury will have the opportunity to generate renewable energy through an innovative technology which turns urine into electricity.