THE ECO-HOP-ON

LONDON’S BUSES TO GO THROUGH A GREEN REVOLUTION

In the pursuit of a sustainable future, industries at all levels are introducing projects and policies that contribute to NetZero 2050 – a normative IEA (International Energy Agency) scenario that shows a pathway for the global energy sector to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. In the transportation industry, NetZero by 2050 has accelerated due to the green hydrogen revolution, owing to its scope for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions drastically. Green hydrogen, when produced through electrolysis from clean solar or wind power is a promising solution for decarbonising the transport system; and when it comes to a transport system as widespread and robust as London’s, there’s no end to what it can achieve. In May this year, Aeristech, a Warwickshire based manufacturing and engineering firm announced its partnership on Project HEIDI: Hydrogen Electric Integrated Drivetrain Initiative, a revolutionary hybrid powertrain project which is looking at retrofitting London’s iconic red double-decker buses with clean zero-emission H2FC (hydrogen fuel cell) systems by 2026.

The project’s aim is not just an alternative to battery electric solutions, but it’s also looking at cost-cutting and power efficiency. The H2FC systems are to utilise Aeristech’s expertise in developing a high-performance compressor that is oil-free, power dense, recovers waste energy and can operate with particular pressure ratios and mass flows. With Aeristech’s history of performance and efficiency, their patented control architecture is uniquely cost-effective, which is why they were selected as a partner to develop a 20kW compressor for this application. Other partners on the project include Bramble Energy, developing the high-voltage fuel cell stack, and EquipMake and University of Bath are contributing to the development, integration and testing of the hybrid powertrain project.

With over 3 million buses operating globally and 38,200 buses in the UK, only 2% of them operate on zero-emission. The government of the UK plans to have 4,000 zero-emission buses circling around by 2025, through project HEIDI, not only is this a possibility but it also promises scope to create and safeguard 498 job opportunities. The project is partly funded by the government and has received £12.7m to retrofit the UK’s, and in near future, Europe’s transport system with H2FC systems. Propelling forward the wheels of sustainability, project HEIDI is turning the government’s green vision to reality. .

Aeristech CEO, Duncan Kerr said, ‘’We’re striving to decarbonise energy production, essentially for the energy that drives all forms of transportation. In 2022 alone, the UK was a 16% contributor to the CO2 emissions across the world. With emissions as high as 53.7 Mt, the need for an alternative has been long due. We are thrilled to be a part of Project HEIDI and contribute to the development of this world-leading hybrid powertrain for the iconic London buses. This project is not only a significant step towards achieving net zero emissions but also a great opportunity to increase awareness of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems in the UK while developing a sustainable and efficient public transport system. Buses are the ideal early adopters of hydrogen-fuelled powertrains as they return to depot, so there is no requirement for extensive distributed hydrogen refuelling stations. We look forward to working with our partners to deliver cutting-edge oil-free compressors, which maximise the power density of the hydrogen fuel cells and recover exhaust energy.’’

Project HEIDI represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of a sustainable future in the transportation industry. It is a showcase for the potential of green hydrogen as a game-changing solution for decades to come.