M4 to become 'hydrogen highway'
HYDROGEN refuelling points for the cars of the future will be placed along the M4, ministers announced today.
The motorway will become a "hydrogen highway" so motorists can use alternatives to petrol and diesel.
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A hydrogen-powered car
Drivers of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles will be catered for at refuelling and recharging points as part of plans to boost the renewable energy industry and create jobs.
South Wales is the latest region to become one of the UK Government's Low Carbon Economic Areas (LCEA), with a focus on hydrogen as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
Ministers said they wanted the M4 to have the UK's biggest low carbon refuelling infrastructure.
There are plans to include other regions, with similar filling points proposed for Swindon, London and the Midlands.
It is hoped providing electric charging stops, hydrogen, compressed natural gas and bio-methane filling points will help stimulate the market.
The Assembly Government, which is supporting the scheme, said opportunities to test vehicles running on renewable technology would be available as the motor industry looks for ways to cut carbon emissions.
Ministers said they want to stimulate the growth of an industry supply chain within South Wales to create environmentally-friendly jobs and training to meet demand in the future.
Talks with car makers and bus operators are under way about bringing research projects to Wales.
The University of Glamorgan is investing £6.3 million in hydrogen energy research, including at a hydrogen combustion engine test site at Baglan, just off the M4 in Neath Port Talbot.
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said the plans would support economic recovery and become integral to Wales prospering in the future.
"Hydrogen presents exciting opportunities for low carbon energy and I want South Wales to become a UK centre of excellence and expertise in hydrogen fuel technologies in both research and development and manufacturing," he said.
"There are enormous opportunities to be exploited from clean, reliable hydrogen power.
"By designating this LCEA in South Wales, we are able to capitalise on existing expertise and skills that will bring economic advantages to Wales, and the rest of the UK."
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Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "It will position Wales globally as a leading centre for driving forward this technology and provide us with a competitive advantage when attracting new investment and research and development into next generation technologies."
Environment Minister Jane Davidson said: "This would be of great help in meeting our challenging targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the amount of energy we derive from renewable sources and improving the security of fuel supplies."
Friends of the Earth Cymru director Gordon James said: "While greening transport is important, it is also essential that major efforts are made to reduce our dependence on cars by improving public transport, cycling and walking facilities."
Ian Williamson, vice chairman of industry body the UK Hydrogen Association, said: "Investment in hydrogen transport infrastructure is an absolute necessity if the UK is to meet its carbon reduction goals and there is a real opportunity for the UK to become a world leader in this technology."







16 Comments
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by Poo-litical, Swansea
Monday, February 15 2010, 6:06PM
“Poll Dancer, Davos
If you are, "not funded by or powered by hydrogen.co.uk", then are you just powered by hot air!?
You might be interested to know, that Ronald Reagan has been dead since 2004! But thanks for the info on "Greenwatch"!”
by Poll Dancer, Davos
Monday, February 15 2010, 2:38PM
“Nope Poo, I am not funded by or powered by hydrogen.co.uk.
However, you may be interested to know that "Greenwatch" is part of the "Heritage Foundation" which is a collection of right-wing think tanks in the USA. Many of Greenwatch's panel are Reagan and Bush stooges. Google: Terrence Scanlon and Edwin Meese III.”
by Poo-litical, Swansea
Monday, February 15 2010, 2:23PM
“Poll Dancer, Davos
Are you being funded by hydrogen.co.uk, to make references to their website, as often as possible!?”
by Poll Dancer, Davos
Sunday, February 14 2010, 12:40PM
“Underground Coal Gasification could be a source of hydrogen. See EP article: "Untapped coal seams deep beneath Swansea Bay to be investigated" - Wednesday, December 09, 2009, 10:14
In the future, the proposals for using renewable energy, outlined on the hyrogen.co.uk website, should be taken seriously.”
by Greenwatch, UK
Saturday, February 13 2010, 8:23PM
“More havoc from the green facists ?
Have some environmental charities become big
business without paying tax ?
What's the difference ? It seems both want money either in subsidies or tax relief from the public purse.
Look at the queues and bottlenecks when trying to pay for travel. What will it be like on the M4 waiting on a charge ?
Wonder if local authorities will employee traffic wardens to fine us to death for a slow charge ?”
by Poll Dancer, Davos
Saturday, February 13 2010, 7:03PM
“@jeffery, dirtytown.
Where in the article does it state that gas will be burnt in order to create electricity to produce hydrogen?
As I suggested earlier, go to hydrogen.co.uk and see how the gas can be produced using renewable energy.”
by Gasbagally, Swansea
Saturday, February 13 2010, 6:59PM
“It seems the latest ¿green¿ gimmick has been an announcement that there will be Hydrogen available as fuel for vehicles along the M4 motorway. It is intended using solar power to get electricity to split water and then sell the Hydrogen as a vehicle fuel. There are formulae I¿ve long forgotten (and also now forgotten how to find them) that shows how much energy would be needed to electrolyse one kilogram of Water. The bonding is quite strong so the energy would be fairly substantial. Bearing in mind the example of the giant Tesco solar roof at Tesco, Llansamlet, Swansea, (it has a live meter just inside the entrance door) it produces so little energy (nil in the dark or cloudy times). I was there today winter mid day and sunny and it was just 2KW not enough to boil one standard 4KW kitchen kettle. The only way to get lots of Hydrogen would be by Carbon reduction chemistry (as was suggested for Crynant, Neath, using waste residue Carbon rich sludge from American Oil Refineries) like the old Town Gas system formula or otherwise by nuclear energy. Incidentally Peter Hain MP had a huge public Grant to put a Solar Roof on his historic home ¿The Old Coach House¿ at Aberdulais, Neath. Ironically very near the old Aberdulais iron works there that has a small Hydro Turbine making a little electricity for the National Trust! I wonder if Hain would dare tell the truth as to how much electricity his roof makes on average through the year and how much it cost in total after we paid the grant towards it. What is being suggested would probably provide not enough fuel for a Moped and Mopeds are not allowed on the M4.”
by jeffery, dirtytown
Saturday, February 13 2010, 6:31PM
“The polytechnic of Wales now university of Glamorgan was working on anaerobic digestors in the early 1980's and probably before, there was a source of energy from human and animal waste, what was done with it, very little but lots of research and a few doctorates . Now thirty years on we are in the hydrogen age and Rhodri Morgan was like the kings new clothes when he visited the plant now we have the second king, Hain extolling hydrogen power. This will work if you use renewable sources of energy to make the electricity to crack the water to release the hydrogen. What is the carbon footprint of a turbine, what is the cost in lost efficiency by burning gas to create electricity to fuel the plants to create the hydrogen. I think it is more efficient to burn the gas in automobile engines rather than loose energy in all stages of hydrogen manufacture. Pity we cant harness the hot air from Morgan and Hain to help the plannet”
by annnon annnon, annnnnnnon
Saturday, February 13 2010, 4:30PM
“Ex-kids worker jailed for child porn pictures
Saturday, February 13, 2010, 10:00A MAN who had worked with children across South Wales has been jailed after he circulated "filthy" child porn to a group of people via email.
Police caught Philip Kenning with 1,070 indecent images of children when they raided his home.
Swansea Crown Court heard some of the images involved "animals performing sex acts on boys".
The 44-year-old, who has worked with children at events across South Wales, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent images of children in 2007, distributing indecent photos in 2004 and possessing child porn in 2008.
Following his arrest he told police he was a moderator of a number of news groups ¿ some of which circulated legal pornographic images.
Mark Spackman, prosecuting, said the indecent images of children included 25 at level five, 104 at level four and 912 at level one.
On a scale of one to five, five is considered the most serious.
Officers seized Kenning's computer equipment when they raided his farmhouse home on January 21, 2008.
It was discovered he had sent an email to eight people entitled "Monday Pics" ¿ with 20 child porn images attached.
He stated in the email: "A few pics for you guys to cheer you up on Monday."
Judge Peter Heywood, described the images as "filthy pornographic material involving children".
He added: "How on earth this material could cheer anyone up is beyond belief."
Kenning had worked at children's events across South Wales as a sub contractor for Swansea based In House Entertainments.
The company said Kenning had not worked with them for a number of years but had gone through stringent checks at the time he did.
But as he had no previous convictions there was nothing to raise any concerns.
Chris James, defending, said most of the images on Kenning's computer at his home in Bethlehem Road, Ffairfach, Llandeilo, hadn't been viewed, and were there as a result of him monitoring the porn.
"There are hundreds and thousands of these groups on the internet and they are all monitored by volunteers," he said.
"In respect of what he did legally, he provided not only a moderating service to a number of websites and groups, he also provided technical support."
He added that Kenning had circulated the images via email prior to becoming a moderator.
The court heard the higher level images were on his computer on a "reckless" basis, as Kenning had received them via emails in his role as a moderator, and hadn't viewed them.
"It's far removed from a deliberate possession," said Mr James.
"He didn't know that they were that level. The only deliberate possession is at level one.
"He's wholly and utterly ashamed and he's deeply embarrassed about what he's done."
Judge Heywood, sentencing, said: "It cannot be overlooked that these are young children. They are abused and exploited to provide sexual gratification for people like you who access this material."
Kenning, who has no previous convictions, was jailed for six months and banned from working with children. He must also register as a sex offender for seven years.
julia.bosnyak@swwmedia.co
fuc@@ing sc@m bas@@rd”
by Poll Dancer, Davos
Saturday, February 13 2010, 3:22PM
“@Gasbag.
If it was a "firm proposal", where are the records?”