The official Race to Zero bus was welcomed to the borough last Monday, as it toured Britain en route to COP26, the major climate change conference in Glasgow.
Known as the “carbon battle bus”, the 100% electric bus selected Cheshire East Council’s hydrogen refuelling compound as an innovative project to visit, in recognition of the council’s plan to become carbon neutral in its own operations by 2025.
Working with Storengy UK, and with support from partners including the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and Ansa Environmental Services, the council has recently installed the green hydrogen refuelling compound at the environmental hub in Middlewich, the first of its kind in the North West. The project has been shortlisted for an award in the climate response category of the Local Government Chronicle awards later this year.
The facility produces hydrogen in the greenest way possible, using an electrolyser connected to solar panels. This provides safe, clean hydrogen fuel, which will initially help to power two of the council’s refuse vehicles.
The electric bus is touring Britain in the build up to COP26, capturing stories of actions and initiatives being taken by organisations, community groups, services and individuals to play a part in creating a sustainable future for the UK.
Coun Sam Corcoran, leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “I am thrilled that our project was chosen as a site to visit by the Race to Zero carbon battle bus. We are taking climate change seriously, and our carbon neutral action plan sets out our plans to become carbon neutral in our own operations by 2025.” (Photo: Cheshire East Council).
