Harnessing Hydrogen for Sustainable Non-Road Mobile Machinery in the UK
Key Ideas
  • Prof. Sam Akehurst advocates for hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICE) to decarbonize non-road mobile machinery quickly.
  • Research indicates that hydrogen ICE technology can match or surpass diesel engine efficiency while emitting minimal to no emissions.
  • Off-road vehicles and heavy machinery in the UK, a significant sector contributing £17.6bn in 2022, face challenges in decarbonization due to diverse operations and heavy reliance on diesel engines.
Prof. Sam Akehurst, the Research Director at IAAPS, has highlighted the potential of hydrogen internal combustion engines (ICE) in facilitating the rapid decarbonization of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM). His research suggests that by transitioning to hydrogen fuel, this technology can not only match but even exceed the efficiency of diesel engines while emitting negligible emissions. The off-road vehicles and heavy machinery sector in the UK, a crucial contributor to the economy with over £17.6bn in 2022, struggles with decarbonization due to its reliance on diesel engines amidst varied environments and demanding duty cycles. This sector's challenges can be addressed by investing in hydrogen infrastructure and driving innovation in hydrogen-powered technologies, thereby paving the way for a more sustainable future for non-road mobile machinery in the UK.
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