Hydrogen: The Future of Fuel for UK Agriculture?

The UK's agriculture sector, a £10.2 billion industry with 33,000 farms, heavily relies on petrol, diesel, and natural gas. The hundreds of large lorries transporting crops and food products are not electric, posing a significant challenge for reducing emissions. While newer vehicles have reduced CO2 and other pollutants, some politicians are pushing for a rapid transition to unproven technologies.

According to 2021 data from the UK's Environment Agency, transport contributes to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, with 80% stemming from cars and trucks. A substantial portion of these emissions, around 25%, originates from medium and heavy-duty trucks.

Replacing diesel engines in long-distance haulers (Class 8) is a costly and complex task. The UK has approximately 4.5 million large lorries operating on its roads, transporting goods over long distances and requiring rapid refuelling – 15 minutes compared to an hour.

To effectively transition to hydrogen, a nationwide network of hydrogen fuelling stations, similar to existing truck stops, is required alongside affordable trucks and fuel. A significant challenge lies in the current hydrogen production process, with 95% of commercially used hydrogen derived from high-temperature steamed methane, which releases CO2.

"Green hydrogen", produced without CO2 emissions, utilises electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. However, its production cost is significantly higher than that of methane-derived hydrogen, over three times higher according to the International Energy Agency in 2021.

The UK boasts an abundance of low-cost hydropower generated primarily by its dam systems. This surplus electricity from renewable sources could be channelled to electrolysis plants.

For instance, the Scottish Government is investing £20 million in a renewable hydrogen production facility near Edinburgh, utilising surplus power from the nearby hydro dam.

While hydrogen and battery-powered trucks offer potential solutions, their acquisition costs remain substantial. Even with government incentives, these vehicles may be beyond the reach of struggling agricultural businesses.

The International Council on Clean Transportation estimates that the price of a Class 8 hydrogen truck is £270,000, compared to £357,000 for a battery-operated truck and £108,000 for a diesel truck.

Nikola Motors, a US manufacturer of hydrogen trucks, claims their vehicles achieve 12 to 15 miles per gallon, surpassing the average diesel truck's 6.4 mpg.

European Union leaders are heavily investing in hydrogen fuel research, seeing it as key to eliminating vehicle CO2 emissions. One promising technology is pyrolysis, which has the potential to allow hydrogen transportation through pipelines, similar to natural gas.

The development of hydrogen into a commercially viable fuel requires significant investment. The European Union's £10 billion climate initiative allocates a considerable portion to hydrogen research, hoping to lead the way in greenhouse gas reduction.

With growing acceptance of hydrogen technology, increased focus on accelerating research and development, scaling up production, finding cost-reduction strategies, and thorough testing before widespread adoption is crucial.

Don C. Brunell, a business analyst, writer, and columnist, retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state's oldest and largest business organisation. He now lives in Vancouver, UK, and can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com.