UK Hydrogen Mobility Market

The UK Hydrogen Mobility Market is experiencing substantial growth, driven by increasing decarbonization targets, rising demand for zero-emission transport, and the growing need for reliable, sustainable mobility solutions across industrial, commercial, and public sectors. Transport operators, logistics providers, and municipal authorities are rapidly adopting hydrogen-powered mobility systems to support emissions reduction initiatives in critical segments such as public transport, heavy goods vehicles, emergency fleets, and industrial mobility applications. As the UK accelerates its transition toward clean transport, hydrogen fuel-cell solutions are emerging as a key enabler of energy security, operational resilience, and long-term sustainability. A major trend shaping the market is the shift toward green hydrogen production, advanced hydrogen storage, and digital-enabled refuelling infrastructure.

Organizations are moving beyond pilot-phase adoption and increasingly investing in scalable hydrogen mobility solutions that meet stringent net-zero requirements. This shift is driven by government incentives, sectoral emission mandates, and strong industry demand for high-efficiency, zero-carbon transport technologies. The integration of real-time monitoring, automation, and smart energy management systems is transforming the hydrogen mobility ecosystem, enabling predictive fleet analytics, optimized hydrogen distribution, and intelligent refuelling operations.

Furthermore, the growing development of hydrogen hubs, distributed production sites, and localized refuelling networks is significantly influencing UK market dynamics. Businesses, transport authorities, and energy developers are embracing decentralized hydrogen mobility models, where hydrogen production, storage, and vehicle refuelling are co-located to reduce logistics costs and enhance energy independence. This reflects a broader shift toward mobility resilience, low-carbon infrastructure, and sustainable fuel diversification. As the UK’s clean transport infrastructure matures, the Hydrogen Mobility Market is positioned for robust expansion driven by technological progress, environmental policy, and rising demand for zero-emission mobility across diverse sectors.

Expansion of Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure

The UK is rapidly scaling up hydrogen refuelling stations to support growing adoption of fuel-cell buses, trucks, and fleet vehicles. Government-backed hydrogen hubs and private-sector partnerships are accelerating nationwide deployment of high-capacity, standardized, and commercially viable refuelling sites. This expansion is essential for enabling long-distance travel, intercity freight movement, and efficient fleet operations.

Growing Adoption of Hydrogen in Heavy-Duty and Commercial Fleets

Hydrogen mobility is gaining strong traction in sectors where battery-electric solutions face limitations—particularly heavy transport, long-haul logistics, municipal services, and industrial fleets. Fleet operators are increasingly selecting hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles for their long range, fast refilling, and ability to operate in demanding conditions without compromising payload or uptime.

Integration of Hydrogen Mobility with Renewable Energy Projects

A rising trend is the coupling of hydrogen mobility with renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and solar. Renewable-powered electrolysis ensures clean hydrogen production that supports low-carbon vehicle deployment. This integration strengthens sustainability outcomes while reducing dependency on fossil-derived hydrogen across transport corridors, ports, and industrial clusters.

The UK Government’s Hydrogen Strategy (2021) forms the backbone of national policy driving hydrogen mobility growth. It projects that hydrogen will contribute 20–35% of the UK’s final energy demand by 2050, equivalent to 250–460 TWh annually, making it one of the largest emerging clean energy vectors. Hydrogen’s role is pivotal in meeting the UK’s legally binding Net Zero 2050 target, particularly for decarbonising hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy road transport, shipping, and aviation. The government also targets 10 GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least 5 GW from electrolytic (green) hydrogen, ensuring a sustainable fuel supply for mobility.

Transport currently accounts for over 25% of UK emissions, and hydrogen is positioned as a complementary solution to battery-electric mobility. This national commitment places the UK alongside leading hydrogen nations such as Japan, Germany, and South Korea. By embedding hydrogen into its Energy Security Strategy (2022) and Transport Decarbonisation Plan (2021), the UK is not only ensuring energy transition resilience but also setting the stage for large-scale commercial hydrogen mobility adoption post-2030.

The UK Government has created an extensive funding ecosystem to accelerate hydrogen deployment in transport. The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) provides £240 million in capital grants to support low-carbon hydrogen production projects, directly feeding into the mobility supply chain. Additionally, the Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM) worth up to £100 million annually offers revenue support through long-term contracts, ensuring economic viability of hydrogen producers supplying refuelling infrastructure. For the transport sector specifically, the Hydrogen Transport Programme (HTP) and Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme have allocated over £200 million to enable deployment of fuel-cell buses and hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) across key regions such as Aberdeen, Birmingham, and Tees Valley.

The Tees Valley Hydrogen Transport Hub, backed by £23 million, serves as the UK’s first integrated demonstration ecosystem for hydrogen mobility across logistics, buses, and fleet operations. These funding initiatives collectively stimulate early adoption, reduce investment risk, and signal long-term policy certainty for OEMs, logistics operators, and refuelling developers key factors in transitioning from pilot projects to commercial hydrogen mobility networks.

Regulatory and deployment targets further underpin the growth of hydrogen mobility in the UK. Under the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, all new HGVs under 26 tonnes must be zero-emission by 2035, with heavier HGVs to follow by 2040, creating a clear demand signal for fuel-cell trucks. The Low-Carbon Hydrogen Standard (LCHS) defines emissions thresholds to ensure that hydrogen used in transport delivers genuine carbon savings an essential element for fleet operators seeking ESG compliance.

Despite a modest current footprint, the UK ranks 7th globally in total fuel-cell vehicle (FCEV) deployment, with 36 medium-duty hydrogen trucks and 36 hydrogen buses in operation as of 2024. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) forecasts rapid growth in the next decade as hydrogen corridors and production clusters (e.g., Tees Valley, Humber, South Wales) mature. In addition, new hydrogen refuelling standards (350–700 bar) and interoperability protocols are being established to align with European Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), ensuring UK compatibility with continental hydrogen transport networks.

In the UK, the regulatory framework is increasingly compelling heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to transition to zero-emission mandates, creating a strong driver for hydrogen-mobility adoption. The Department for Transport (DfT) confirms that new non-zero-emission HGVs at or under 26 tonnes must cease sales by 2035, and from 2040 all new HGVs in the UK must be fully zero emission.  By setting these clear phase-out dates, the government provides market certainty and forces fleet operators, manufacturers and infrastructure providers to plan ahead.  Because hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles (and hydrogen internal-combustion alternatives) are among the few viable zero-emission options for long-haul heavy freight where battery-only solutions face constraints in range, weight and charging time these deadlines create a growth engine for hydrogen mobility.

Furthermore, the road-freight sector contributes around 19% of the UK’s domestic transport emissions (in 2020) and is thus a key target for decarbonisation. With fleets needing to renew and replace assets well ahead of the phase-out, hydrogen solutions garner interest as they align with the regulatory horizon. Similarly, the bus sector is subject to regulatory pressure, pushing toward zero-emission fleets and thereby opening hydrogen as a credible mobility pathway. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), in Q1 2025 the UK recorded 739 zero-emission buses (ZEBs) representing 29.2% of all new bus and coach registrations, up 129.5% year-on-year. Meanwhile, the government in England is consulting on ending sales of new non-zero emission buses (i.e., diesel or hybrid conventional) from 2030 at the earliest.

While coaches and minibuses are still being assessed, the clear signal toward 2030 triggers procurement and investment decisions now. Hydrogen-fuel-cell buses (especially in longer-range or higher-duty routes) thus benefit: they offer fast refuelling and heavier duty capability compared to battery-only options in certain contexts. The regulatory deadline accelerates fleet replacement cycles, making hydrogen-powered buses commercially more viable and reducing perceived risk for infrastructure investment (refuelling stations, depot conversions). The convergence of bus-fleet turnover and zero-emission policy deadlines helps drive hydrogen mobility adoption in the UK transit sector.

Beyond national deadlines, local air-quality regulations impose additional urgency that drives hydrogen mobility uptake. For example, in the capital, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion across Greater London led to a 27% reduction in roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels city-wide and a 31% drop in PM2.5 emissions in outer London in 2024 compared to what would have occurred without the expansion. Heavy vehicles such as buses and HGVs are significant contributors to local NO₂ and particulate pollution the Transport for London (TfL) reports that its bus fleet achieved a 90% reduction in NOx emissions compared to 2016 after upgrading to Euro VI engines.

The UK hydrogen mobility market represents a transformative and rapidly evolving sector characterized by intense innovation, strategic partnerships, and a race to establish technological and commercial leadership in the emerging clean energy economy. This dynamic landscape encompasses a diverse ecosystem of participants, from global industrial gas giants with century-long legacies to agile startups pioneering novel hydrogen production and deployment models. These companies operate within an increasingly supportive policy environment driven by the UK government's ambitious net-zero commitments. The market structure reflects a complex interplay between established multinational corporations leveraging existing distribution networks and manufacturing capabilities, and innovative newcomers bringing disruptive technologies and business models to address the unique demands of zero-emission transport.

Linde PLC and Air Liquide represent the industry's established powerhouses, operating as two of the world's largest industrial gas suppliers with extensive global hydrogen production capabilities, distribution networks, and decades of experience in industrial applications. Both companies are leveraging their substantial capital resources and technical expertise to expand into mobility applications, establishing hydrogen refueling infrastructure and partnering with major transport operators across the UK and Europe.

Similarly, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc maintains a formidable competitive position as a global leader in hydrogen production and supply, with significant investments in large-scale green hydrogen projects and a strategic focus on heavy-duty transport applications that require reliable, high-volume fuel supply. Meanwhile, several companies have carved out distinctive competitive positions through specialized technologies and strategic market focus:

Plug Power Inc. has emerged as a prominent international player with growing UK presence, distinguished by its integrated approach combining fuel cell technology, hydrogen production, and refueling infrastructure.

AFC Energy holds a unique position as a British innovator specializing in alkaline fuel cell technology, with particular strength in off-grid and temporary power generation applications that support construction sites, events, and remote transport hubs requiring zero-emission energy solutions.

GeoPura Ltd, another UK-based innovator, has established itself as a leading provider of hydrogen power units for temporary and off-grid applications, serving major events, film productions, and construction projects with reliable, scalable, and emissions-free mobile power generation systems.

Additionally, several companies represent emerging competitive forces with targeted strategic approaches:

Protium Green Solutions has positioned itself as a vertically integrated British developer focused on creating end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystems, encompassing production, storage, and distribution infrastructure specifically designed for UK transport and industrial applications.

First Hydrogen operates as a specialized vehicle manufacturer and operator, developing hydrogen-powered light commercial vehicles and demonstrating real-world performance through pilot programs with major UK fleet operators.

Ryze Power has carved out a distinctive niche by focusing on hydrogen fuel cell range extenders for heavy-duty vehicles, offering a pragmatic solution that enhances the operational range and flexibility of electric commercial vehicles without requiring complete fleet replacement.

Statkraft AS, Europe's largest renewable energy generator, brings a unique competitive dimension through its renewable electricity generation capabilities that underpin green hydrogen production, positioning the Norwegian energy giant as a key enabler of sustainable hydrogen supply chains serving the UK mobility market through its substantial renewable energy portfolio and strategic investments in hydrogen infrastructure development.