Our story
Hydrogen Refuse Vehicles: Tackling Emissions from Waste Collection
Cheshire East Council set a target to become carbon neutral for its own operations by 2025. Project Vanguard was designed as a 3-year demonstration project with the principle aim to reduce carbon emissions within the waste collection services across Cheshire and Warrington, and to use hydrogen powered refuse vehicles to raise awareness of a less-familiar energy alternative to fossil fuels.
The facility was launched in October 2021 and successfully installed an electrolyser linked to a solar photovoltaic array; a hydrogen refueller; and hybrid (H2 ICE) conversion of three vehicles (two Refuse Collection Vehicles owned by Cheshire East and a Storengy 4x4).
The demonstrator project was successful on a number of fronts:
- Built capacity and understanding in the use, management and storage of hydrogen with the project partners;
- Supported green jobs and growth through upskilling workers, and safeguarding employment in vehicle and gas technologies;
- Raised awareness of hydrogen and the climate emergency amongst the general public and school children (the two hydrogen Refuse Collection Vehicles were named 'Chewie and Chomper' through a school's competition); and
- Facilitated improvements in air quality using hydrogen, as part of our Air Quality Strategy, and by reducing fuel transport to the site.
The project was a highly collaborative effort as Cheshire East Council teamed up with Storengy Ltd, ANSA Environmental Services alongside support from the Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.
Our advice
We found that prior research into similar projects such as those in Scotland and Westminster using 'grey hydrogen' helped to develop a basic understanding of how hydrogen refuelling may work and the potential saving which could be made.
'Grey hydrogen' is the most common form of hydrogen production; generated from natural gas (which is predominantly methane), it is not a clean, renewable energy supply. However, 'green hydrogen' (produced from water using renewable energy instead of methane gas) is a clean, green energy fuel supply with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
We worked very closely with Storengy to understand the practicalities of operating the project before it was built to establish if the project was deliverable.
Engagement with key stakeholders was important – especially for liaising with our local environment hub, and ANSA environmental whom as a result were aware of our goals and understood the relevance of the project. We also created publicly assessable FAQ's to ensure information was shared openly.
We also achieved the support form local leaders and councillors early in the process.
In terms of looking back at the project, we learnt that to get things done can take a lot of time; patience and determination is needed. We also learnt the value of having a strong, hardworking team to keep pulling the project together.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the reduction in carbon emissions from waste collection to help meet Cheshire East's carbon neutrality target; improvements to local air quality from less fossil fuel usage; support for green jobs and clean energy growth; increased awareness and experience of hydrogen as a more suitable fuel for refuse collection vehicles.
