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New green faciilty underlines Loughborough Universitys commitment to sustainability
Posted on 30/12/2008
New ‘green’ facility underlines Loughborough University’s commitment to sustainability
Loughborough University today (Thursday 25 September) unveiled its new hydrogen refuelling station, underlining its commitment to the development and support of green technologies.
The facility, one of only two currently operational in the UK, will enable the University to drive forward its research in this area, as well as provide a refuelling service to hydrogen vehicles used by campus-based organisations. One of the main benefits of hydrogen-powered vehicles is that they only emit water vapour into the atmosphere and not environmentally damaging carbon dioxide. Loughborough’s ultimate goal is to transfer its own service fleet over to hydrogen.
Based at Holywell Park, the facility is part of a cluster of hydrogen refuelling stations being set up across the region by the British Midlands Hydrogen Forum. Known as the Midlands Hydrogen Ring, the stations will be at the heart of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure planned throughout the UK.
The University’s Chief Operating Officer Will Spinks officially opened Loughborough’s refueller. On display at the event were a range of hydrogen vehicles, including Microcabs, the Morgan LifeCar and the ENV bike. The ENV bike is the world’s first purpose built hydrogen fuel cell motorbike bike and was developed by Loughborough University spin out Intelligent Energy.
Speaking about the new facility Mr Spinks said: “At Loughborough sustainability is key. The opening of this new refueling station underlines our commitment to operating in an environmentally friendly way and to the development of new technologies that support this goal.”
The refueller has been funded by Loughborough University in partnership with the East Midlands Development Agency (emda), and was manufactured by Air Products. Initially gas for the facility will be provided by an external supplier, but the University is investigating ways of creating its own hydrogen through the use of green technologies on campus.
Ian Williamson, Air Products Hydrogen Energy Systems Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “We are extremely proud to provide the latest technology in hydrogen refuelling to Loughborough University. Air Products is the market leader in the development of hydrogen fuelling stations. We have already built more than 85 stations worldwide and over 66,000 safe vehicle fuellings have already taken place.”
Loughborough winner of the coveted University of the Year title in this year’s Sunday Times University Guide is world renowned for its development of green technologies. It is home to the internationally acclaimed CREST (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology) and in 2006 launched a Research School in Sustainability. The School brings together a multi-talented team of experts in sustainability-related research from across the University, and promotes collaboration with other academic institutions and industry.
In recognition of its research expertise in this field Loughborough, in partnership with the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham and support from the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Advantage West Midlands, was chosen to host the Government’s new £1 billion national Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to develop cleaner energies. The headquarters of the ETI are now based at the Loughborough campus.
The University was also one of the first in the country to begin using 100% green power back in 2002, and this year was ranked fifth in the People and Planet Green League and awarded a First Class degree for its solid environmental performance. The Green League looks at both universities’ commitment to environmental management and at their performance. It takes into consideration nine indicators, including the number of full-time environment staff employed, the percentage of waste recycled and water consumption per head. Overall Loughborough scored 47.5 points out of a total of 60, gaining ‘gold stars’ in four categories environmental policy, environmental staff, Fairtrade university status and recycled waste.