NOTTINGHAM'S first hydrogen fuel filling station is set to open for business.
Drivers of hydrogen-powered vehicles will be able to fill up at the University of Nottingham's new £9 million Energy Technologies Building from tomorrow.
The facility will be the first in the city to offer a hydrogen production and refuelling station, and one of only around 20 hydrogen refuelling sites that are open or proposed across the UK.
Gavin Walker, professor of sustainable energy technologies at the University of Nottingham, said: "Hydrogen energy is a strategic research focus for the university and an important new technology."
He said hydrogen fuel could reduce the amount of carbon emissions generated by transport.
The new refuelling station also includes charging points for electric cars.
The UK's first commercial hydrogen filling station opened at car manufacturer Honda's plant in Swindon in September last year.
The Government launched an initiative earlier this year to try to make hydrogen-powered cars a commercial success.
Unlike petrol and diesel, hydrogen gas produces only water when it is burned and no carbon emissions.
Hydrogen-powered cars use a fuel cell that takes oxygen from the air and combines it with hydrogen from a tank to create electricity.
The electricity then powers electric motors, which drive the car's wheels.
Keith Peat, East Midlands co-ordinator for the Association of British Drivers, said it may be a while before hydrogen fuel becomes the norm on Nottingham's forecourts.
He said: "There's a lot of potential in it and good luck to them, but realistically it's going to be a long while before we replace the internal combustion engine. If anyone can come up with a cheap, viable alternative to the internal combustion engine then great."
He added: "The fact of the matter is that it's very hi-tech, and the average driver won't get their hands on a hydrogen-powered car for a long time."
A hydrogen-powered black cab and transit van will be among the first vehicles to officially use the new filling station, which is located on The University of Nottingham Innovation Park, on the Jubilee campus.
The hydrogen taxi has been provided by sponsor Intelligent Energy, while the hydrogen transit van is from energy storage and clean fuel company ITM Power, which has installed the hydrogen station at the Energy Technologies Building.
The university hopes the building will give students the chance to carry out research into future low-carbon innovations.
The building includes a testing facility for the university's Department of Architecture and Built Environment that enables experts to create full-scale building exteriors and other building features to test their energy efficiency.
It also has laboratory space for low carbon research, as well as a "green roof" with solar panels and ecological habitats.
Among guest speakers at the launch will be Steve Holliday, chief executive of the National Grid, and E.On chief executive Dr Tony Cocker.