Hydrogen-powered transport projects given £8m

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said hydrogen technology had "great potential"

Hydrogen-powered transport projects on Teesside have been given £8m in government funding.

The Tees Valley hydrogen transport hub will develop supermarket delivery trucks and airport ground vehicles that run on the gas.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said four publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations would also be created.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the Tees Valley was a "pioneer" in developing the technology.

"Hydrogen technology has great potential to decarbonise transport and help grow the economy," he said.

"This investment will provide a further boost to the economy, creating skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the North East."

'Pay off'

One of the schemes, led by low-emission transport company ULEMCo, will develop hydrogen-powered airport support vehicles, such as tow trucks for planes and sweepers to clean runways at Teesside International Airport.

Hydrogen refuelling company Element 2 is also being funded to provide the infrastructure needed for the widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel.

Its four refuelling stations would be used to supply a range of vehicles, including lorries and supermarket delivery trucks, the DfT said.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said being one of the first areas to trial hydrogen fuel was "continuing to pay off".

The airport and wider region was "at the forefront of the UK's net zero ambitions", he added.

The announcement comes amid a growing backlash over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plans to "max out" the UK's oil and gas reserves.

Tory MP Chris Skidmore, who led the government's net zero review, said the move was on "the wrong side of history" while billionaire climate philanthropist Andrew Forrest suggested he could pull investment from the UK if he sees the country "steering itself over a cliff backing fossil fuel".