News from Sheffield Labour

Labour Government invests in Sheffield green fuel company

Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Sheffield Central Paul Blomfield has welcomed today’s announcement of major investment in a local Sheffield company, ITM Power, developing technology to extend the use of green fuel.

Mr Blomfield visited ITM Power, at their Atlas factory today, as the Government’s Technology Strategy Board announced a £337,000 grant for the company. ITM Power is an energy storage and clean fuel company developing new technology to produce and store green hydrogen for commercial use.

During his visit to the factory, which followed a similar visit by Chancellor Alistair Darling last June, Mr Blomfield drove in a Ford Focus converted to run on green hydrogen and inspected a model home which uses a combination of solar power and green hydrogen technology.

Paul Blomfield said: “Sheffield was at the cutting edge of the first industrial revolution and we need to make sure that we are at the cutting edge of the next.

“We need to bring together the research excellence of our universities with the outstanding engineering skills of local industry to develop well-paid skilled jobs in new sectors like green technology.”

“ITM Power is showing what can be done and I’m delighted they’re getting government support. The decision follows a major grant to develop a new Advanced Manufacturing Park here in Sheffield. Labour is supporting industry to reduce carbon emissions and create sustainable jobs in Sheffield.”

ITM Chief Executive Graham Cooley welcomed Mr Blomfield’s visit and said:

“Today’s announcement is a clear indication of a renewed commitment by the Government to hydrogen generation and utilisation in the UK. ITM are now well-placed to commercialise our products in the key sectors of low carbon transport and the built environment.”

Announcing the new funding Lord Hunt, Minister of State for Energy said:

“Cleaning up our energy supply and the fuel we use for transport will give the UK the opportunity to develop the low carbon industries of the future. Fuel cells and hydrogen can play a key role in cutting CO2 emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.”