Tilbury’s inaugural Hydrogen Hub event, focused on hydrogen-powered maritime charging and decarbonisation across port and industrial sectors and represented a significant step forward in building a strong hydrogen economy throughout the Thames Estuary.
Hosted by Forth Ports, alongside partners GeoPura and Toyota, at the London International Cruise Terminal, the event brought together more than 100 delegates from the energy, ports, transport and construction sectors to see how hydrogen technologies are already being deployed at a commercial scale.
Reflecting on the event’s success, David Housden, Head of Engineering and Procurement at the Port of Tilbury noted the showcase demonstrated not only the scale of innovation already underway at Tilbury, but also the growing momentum behind hydrogen as a practical low-carbon solution for industry.
Throughout the day, attendees experienced hydrogen in action across real-world applications, from maritime and logistics to heavy construction and transport.
A key highlight was the arrival of Energy Observer, the world’s first self-sufficient hydrogen-powered vessel and floating renewable energy laboratory, which served as a powerful symbol of the transition towards cleaner energy solutions.
Visitors also witnessed the first-ever demonstration of a mobile HPU2 hydrogen-powered rapid EV charger delivering shore-to-ship power, alongside live hydrogen refuelling demonstrations and previews of the British-built Toyota hydrogen fuel cell Hilux prototypes.
The event also showcased the wider hydrogen ecosystem emerging across Tilbury and the surrounding region. This included on-site hydrogen production and delivery infrastructure at the port, as well as GeoPura HPUs already deployed in support of the nearby Lower Thames Crossing project.
In March 2026, the hydrogen plant. supported by £2 million of Thames Freeport seed capital, was delivered to Forth Ports’ Tilbury2 site.
As Forth Ports continues its partnership with GeoPura to build on its on-site green hydrogen production capability, Tilbury is positioning itself as a hub for low-carbon logistics, industrial decarbonisation and energy innovation. The success of the inaugural Hydrogen Hub confirmed Tilbury’s ambition to become a leading centre for hydrogen adoption, collaboration and investment.
