SHROPSHIRE Council is exploring ways to set up a hydrogen plant along the A5 international transport corridor.

In a bid to reduce vehicle emissions, the council is considering the development of a small-scale hydrogen manufacturing and refuelling plant.

This innovative facility would serve commercial vehicles like lorries and buses.

Shrewsbury, because of its location next to the A5, has previously been identified as one of the region’s top 10 sites for hydrogen refuelling facilities.

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Bridging the knowledge gap, Shropshire will host a workshop with top brains including academics and commercial experts.

The aim is for stakeholders to share their understanding of how a demo unit could be built county-wide.

Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for climate change, environment and transport, said:-“Shropshire Council is very much looking to the future and exploring a number of innovative projects to help manage its own carbon footprint and influence carbon reduction countywide.

“I am delighted we are working with key-stakeholders to pull together a broad range of expertise and knowledge with a view to forming a consortium capable of delivering a small-scale hydrogen manufacturing and refuelling plant for Shropshire.

“By working in partnership we can draw on a range of skill sets and will be able to access different funding streams to allow progress on this project.”

Accommodating key stakeholders such as HyDEX, Kier, Protium, Veolia and Midlands Connect in a workshop, the council joins forces to tap from a pool of expertise.

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Shropshire has had a stint with hydrogen facilities; visiting one at Tyseley in Birmingham.

Dr Sharon George, principal investigator for the HyDEX programme, said: “I am very pleased that HyDEX is able to help Shropshire Council with their hydrogen initiatives.

“The HyDEX programme is all about bringing together our academic specialists with partners in business and the public sector to share expertise and exchange knowledge and ideas.”