JCB signs multi-billion-euro hydrogen deal

JCB chairman Lord Bamford with the company’s latest hydrogen-powered presentation

JCB has signed a deal said to be worth billions of euros, to buy green hydrogen from Australian energy company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI).

The purchase will make FFI the UK’s largest supplier of the clean fuel, while driving forward JCB’s plans to launch hydrogen-powered construction equipment onto the market.

JCB chairman Lord Anthony Bamford told the BBC that pursuing the use of green hydrogen in the construction industry was “the right thing to do”.

The company will buy 10% of FFI’s total green hydrogen output and manage its distribution of the hydrogen to customers within the UK, in partnership with Ryze Hydrogen, a company founded by Lord Bamford’s son.

In what is seen as a call to the UK government to develop infrastructure for the fossil fuel-free energy, Lord Bamford said, “It’s fine having an engine powered by green hydrogen, but no good if customers can’t get green hydrogen to fuel their machines.”

CE recently reported that JCB is investing heavily in hydrogen engines and aims to have its first hydrogen-powered machines on the market by the end of next year.

Launching the company’s first hydrogen-powered telehandler earlier this month, Lord Bamford said, “This is a major advance on the road towards making green hydrogen a viable solution.”