Aegis lands £100 million to build 30 new UK hydrogen refuelling stations
Aegis Energy has landed £100 million in funding from Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners to build the UK’s first clean, multi-energy refuelling hubs for commercial vehicles.
The investment will fund an initial network of five sites, expected to be operational by 2027, with the first opening in early 2026.
The hubs will provide public access to hydrogen, bio-CNG, HVO, and electric charging, aiming to bridge a critical gap in the country’s transport decarbonisation efforts.
Multi-energy infrastructure aimed at UK commercial vehicles
With transport responsible for 29% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions – and commercial vehicles contributing 10% of that total – there is increasing pressure to transition away from fossil fuels.
While regulations will phase out non-zero-emission vans and trucks from 2035-2040, the infrastructure needed to support that shift remains a significant challenge.
Aegis’ refuelling hubs aim to address this by providing a mix of clean energy options tailored to commercial fleets, offering flexibility as operators navigate the energy transition.
Battery electric vehicles (EVs) dominate the zero-emission conversation, but they’re not a universal fix.
Logistics and fleet operators in particular face hurdles with EVs, from limited range and lengthy charging times, to grid constraints and payload limitations.
Hydrogen, with its fast refuelling times and compatibility with heavier vehicles, is increasingly being seen as a complementary solution, particularly for LCVs and HGVs.
Recently, Brad Miller, Head of Product and Pricing for LCVs at Stellantis recently commented on this issue under Driving Hydrogen’s LinkedIn, saying: “There is no shortage of interest [in hydrogen] from fleets with operational cycles being crippled by charging times.
“Some vans with high mileage need to charge 2-3 times a day. [Hydrogen] infrastructure is the hurdle [but] lots of positive activity going on there.”
Meanwhile, more than half of UK van drivers (52%) simply don’t have access to home charging, further underlining the need for public infrastructure.
Aegis Energy’s hubs are designed to tackle these practical issues, providing scalable and accessible multi-energy solutions in key logistics locations.
Initial sites will be built in Sheffield, Immingham, Warrington, Corby, and Towcester, with plans to expand to 30 hubs by 2030.
First-of-their-kind ‘multi-energy’ hubs
These are not your average refuelling stations. Aegis Energy’s hubs are purpose-built for the demands of commercial operators, combining high-speed electric charging with hydrogen refuelling, bio-CNG, HVO, and AdBlue.
Each hub will be capable of servicing over 40+ HGVs and 25+ vans simultaneously, helping operators transition on their own terms.
They will come with secure truck parking and driver facilities – including showers, rest areas, and decent food – with the hubs aiming to improve the refuelling experience while supporting decarbonisation goals.
Christopher Thorneycroft-Smith, Co-Founder at Aegis Energy said: “Building depot infrastructure can be complex and grid connections are not easy, or cheap, to secure.
“The transition will take time and play out differently for each fleet, but by providing public hubs with multiple clean energy options, we’re enabling operators to choose how they want to make the shift.”
Each site is expected to reduce carbon equivalent emissions by approximately 14,300 tonnes per year, delivering a measurable impact on the UK’s overall emissions.
Strategic investment in sustainable transport
For the backers, Quinbrook, this investment marks their first venture into sustainable transport, complementing an existing portfolio that spans solar, storage, and other low-carbon infrastructure.
Keith Gains, Managing Director and UK Regional Lead at Quinbrook, described the project as an important step forward, saying: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Aegis Energy to set the standard for multi-energy refuelling hubs, and we’re excited to help scale this critical infrastructure across the UK”.
Construction of the first hub will begin in 2025, with operations starting the following year. The long-term vision is a network of 30 multi-energy hubs by 2030, designed to support millions of vehicles making the shift to cleaner fuels.
