Wrightbus has signed an agreement with Sizewell C for the supply of up to 150 hydrogen buses to operate to and from the construction site of its nuclear power station in Suffolk, England.
Initially, Sizewell C will order four Hydroliner double-decker buses. These units will undergo pilot operations to determine whether they could be successfully used to transport workers.
If the pilot is successful, Sizewell C will order up to 150 buses, making it one of the largest hydrogen bus fleets in the world.
Julia Pyke, Joint Managing Director of Sizewell C said:Once it starts generating, Sizewell C will be one of the biggest generators of low carbon electricity in the country. Our plans for hydrogen buses show we are determined that the construction of the power station will also be as clean as possible.
A hydrogen fleet will lower our carbon emissions and reduce the impact of workforce transport on local communities. At the same time, I am excited that we will potentially kickstart a market for this important low-carbon fuel in the East of England.
The four buses for the pilot scheme will be delivered in early 2024. They will be among the first hydrogen buses to be based in Suffolk.
In addition to using hydrogen buses for transport, Sizewell C aims to use hydrogen-powered equipment across its large construction site. This project is part of a consortium led by Wrightbus’s sister company, Ryze which has been awarded more than 3 million GBP in government funding to test a mobile hydrogen refuelling system at the site.
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, said:We are delighted to be working with Sizewell C on this pilot and the fact that it could lead to a fleet of up to 150 hydrogen buses is testament to the potential hydrogen has for both passenger transport and construction sites in general.
We continue to invest in hydrogen technology as a driver to developing cleaner, more efficient transport solutions.
