UK Government to Allow Hydrogen-Powered Construction Machinery on Public Roads
Key Ideas
  • The UK government has confirmed plans to update regulations to allow hydrogen-powered non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) on public roads.
  • This decision aims to address the barrier to wider uptake of low-emission plant and supports decarbonization efforts in industries like construction.
  • The government received 33 responses to the consultation, all in favor of allowing new hydrogen-powered NRMM on the roads.
  • While only hydrogen-powered machinery will be permitted for now, other gaseous fuels and retrofitted machinery are under review for future consideration.
The UK government has officially announced its decision to update regulations to permit hydrogen-powered non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) to be driven on public roads. This move follows a consultation held last year, where the government received feedback in favor of allowing construction machines like diggers and mobile cranes to operate on UK highways. The aim is to remove the requirement for a vehicle special order (VSO) for such vehicles, promoting wider adoption of low-emission plant and supporting decarbonization efforts. While only hydrogen-powered NRMM will be allowed initially, the government plans to continue reviewing other gaseous fuels and retrofitted machinery. The decision has been welcomed by industry representatives, including Hydrogen UK, highlighting the significant role of hydrogen in decarbonizing industries like construction. This positive step is seen as crucial in regulating hydrogen use and helping the UK's construction sector move towards achieving net zero emissions.
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