To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for her assessment of the potential of hydrogen electric vehicles to provide sustainable, greener transport in rural areas.

As Infrastructure Minister, I am determined to secure a public transport service that connects people; unlocks our economic potential; protects our valuable environment; encourages active lifestyles; and improves well-being. I also want to see low emission – and in time zero emission – vehicles delivering services and public transport across Northern Ireland.

My Department is currently examining potential options to support the decarbonisation of transport through the introduction of a range of new green fuels which have the potential to replace petrol and diesel. This includes support for alternative fuels such as “Green” hydrogen. Development and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technologies in the transport sector is at an earlier stage than for plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicles.

Earlier this year I announced £30m investment in Zero Emission buses, building on the procurement of 3 Hydrogen Buses by Translink, as part of the Northern Ireland Hydrogen (NIH2) Project, which will also provide refuelling infrastructure for Hydrogen Vehicles other than for public transport.

Hydrogen technologies are particularly suited to the heaver vehicle market and I am currently considering how the NIH2 project can be built upon and how the introduction of these new fuels can be supported. Considering such options could provide a pathway for greening our transport infrastructure beyond urban areas and providing clean vehicle technology to operate in our small towns and countryside across Northern Ireland.