What Happened — Trial Completed Successfully
- Industrial Chemicals Limited (ICL), a UK speciality chemicals manufacturer, has completed trials of a hydrogen-based exhaust emissions reduction technology on heavy-duty truck engines at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford, England. (The Chemical Engineer)
- The technology was deployed on 30 trucks — about one-third of ICL’s fleet at its West Thurrock facility in Essex — as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions and fuel costs associated with road transport. (The Chemical Engineer)
- After two cleaning cycles, the trials showed about a 7 % reduction in emissions and fuel costs, with potential for further improvements if applied more frequently. (The Chemical Engineer)
- Following the trial, ICL has now signed a three-year contract with Engine Carbon Clean, the company supplying the hydrogen technology. (The Chemical Engineer)
How the Hydrogen Technology Works
Hydrogen-Assisted Engine Cleaning
- The system uses hydrogen produced by electrolysis (from water) to clean carbon deposits inside combustion engines. (The Chemical Engineer)
- Hydrogen is injected into the air intake, where it reacts with and helps remove carbon build-up inside the engine — much like a deep engine ‘clean’ — leading to better airflow, improved combustion, and lower emissions. (The Chemical Engineer)
- By removing this carbon, the engine “breathes better,” which reduces fuel use and associated emissions regardless of whether the drivetrain runs on diesel or another fuel type. (The Chemical Engineer)
- The underlying technology was originally developed in the early 2010s to improve racing car performance and fuel efficiency, but has now been adapted for industrial use. (The Chemical Engineer)
Impacts on Emissions and Fleet
Measured Improvements
- ICL reported its emissions and fuel costs dropped by around 7 % after two hydrogen-cleaning cycles on the trial truck engines. (The Chemical Engineer)
- Executives involved in the trial said the results were “very encouraging” and further reductions might come with additional cleans per year. (The Chemical Engineer)
Broader Operational Plans
- After the trial’s success, ICL plans to deploy the hydrogen cleaning technology across its entire UK fleet at facilities in England and Wales. (The Chemical Engineer)
- Transport currently accounts for a significant proportion of ICL’s emissions — road fuel made up ~28 % of its total emissions in 2024 — so cutting this area is key to its sustainability plans. (The Chemical Engineer)
Why This Matters
Industrial Decarbonisation
- Heavy-duty transport, including trucks, is one of the harder-to-decarbonise sectors because of long ranges and high power demands. Trials like this help demonstrate practical pathways to reduce emissions now, even before full electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles are widely adopted.
Supplemental to Vehicle Electrification
- While the shift to electric and fuel cell trucks (e.g., hydrogen fuel cell HGV corridors being developed in the UK) is underway, intermediate technologies like hydrogen engine cleaning can offer near-term emissions gains for existing fleets. (Driving Hydrogen)
Industry Commentary
- Some commentators see this kind of hydrogen application as part of a multi-layered decarbonisation strategy, especially useful where replacing entire fleets isn’t immediately feasible.
- Others caution that true decarbonisation will ultimately depend on moving toward zero-tailpipe solutions such as battery electric or fuel cell vehicles — but that doesn’t diminish the value of interim improvements like engine carbon cleaning.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Industrial Chemicals Limited (ICL), UK speciality chemicals producer (The Chemical Engineer) |
| Technology | Hydrogen-based engine carbon cleaning from Engine Carbon Clean (The Chemical Engineer) |
| Trial Results | ~7 % reduction in emissions and fuel costs after two cleaning cycles (The Chemical Engineer) |
| Next Steps | Rolling out technology across the rest of ICL’s fleet (The Chemical Engineer) |
| Significance | Interim emissions reductions while broader decarbonisation solutions mature |
Context in UK Hydrogen Transport Trends
This initiative sits alongside other UK hydrogen transport developments — such as plans for the first hydrogen HGV refuelling corridor along the M4, which will support hydrogen fuel cell trucks and reduce heavy-duty transport emissions on a larger scale under government programmes. (Driving Hydrogen)
Here’s a case-study-style review of the UK chemicals manufacturer’s hydrogen-based emissions reduction trial for truck exhausts, including real examples, outcomes from the test, and expert and industry reactions:
Case Study 1 — Industrial Chemicals Limited (ICL) Hydrogen Engine Cleaning Trial
Background & Trial Design
Industrial Chemicals Limited (ICL), a UK speciality chemicals firm, completed a trial of a hydrogen-based emissions reduction technology aimed at cutting carbon emissions from heavy-duty trucks. The tests were conducted at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedford, UK, and involved using advanced hydrogen injection technology developed by Engine Carbon Clean. (The Chemical Engineer)How the Technology Works
- Hydrogen produced by on-site electrolysis is injected into a truck’s air intake system.
- The hydrogen interacts with carbon deposits built up inside the engine and helps to “wash” carbon out through the exhaust, improving combustion, engine breathing, and efficiency.
- This process is retrofit-compatible with existing internal combustion engines, regardless of fuel type, making it a transitional emissions-reduction approach. (The Chemical Engineer)
Measured Results
- After two cleaning cycles using the hydrogen system, ICL reported a ~7 % reduction in both CO₂ emissions and fuel costs for the 30 trucks tested — about one-third of its fleet at the West Thurrock facility in Essex.
- Company leadership described the results as “very encouraging” and suggested that performing additional hydrogen cleaning cycles each year could yield even deeper reductions. (The Chemical Engineer)
Operational Integration
- Following the positive results, ICL signed a three-year contract with Engine Carbon Clean to roll out the hydrogen engine cleaning technology more widely across its fleet at facilities in England and Wales.
- This builds on ICL’s broader sustainability goals: it aims to cut downstream emissions by 20 % by 2040 and achieve net-zero upstream and direct emissions by 2030. (The Chemical Engineer)
Case Study 2 — Broader Hydrogen Engine Cleaning Adoption (Rail & Transport)
Although not directly part of ICL’s trial, Balfour Beatty’s rail trial illustrates how similar technology is being used in other UK sectors:
- The infrastructure firm trialled Engine Carbon Clean (ECC) on a rail machine, finding a 15.79 % reduction in emissions compared with uncleaned engines, and plans to expand use across its tamper fleet. (Project Plant)
This suggests hydrogen-based engine cleaning has cross-sector potential, from road freight to rail plant, as a transitional emissions-reduction tool.
Industry & Expert Commentary
Transitional Tool in Fleet Decarbonisation
- Many transport and energy experts see hydrogen engine cleaning as a practical intermediary solution — it offers near-term carbon and cost savings for existing fleets that can’t yet convert to zero-tailpipe technologies like full battery or hydrogen fuel cells.
- That fits with broader UK efforts to integrate hydrogen into transport systems, such as hydrogen heavy goods vehicle (HGV) refuelling corridors being developed along major freight routes. (Driving Hydrogen)
Expert Views on Emissions Reduction
- Traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) improvements like engine cleaning don’t eliminate emissions entirely, but they reduce carbon buildup, improve combustion efficiency, and lower fuel consumption, making them valuable as part of a multi-layered decarbonisation strategy alongside electrification and hydrogen powertrains. (Driving Hydrogen)
Corporate Leadership
ICL’s CEO described the move as supporting the company’s goal of having the “greenest fleet in the UK”, highlighting how corporate sustainability strategies increasingly incorporate pragmatic technology solutions rather than waiting for full fleet electrification. (The Chemical Engineer)
Discussion & Broader Context
Transitional vs. Long-Term Solutions
- Hydrogen engine cleaning helps cut emissions from existing trucks now, without requiring full vehicle replacement.
- However, ultimate decarbonisation of heavy transport will likely depend on zero-tailpipe technologies — such as hydrogen fuel cell systems or battery electrification — supported by green hydrogen infrastructure and heavy-duty vehicle design changes. (Driving Hydrogen)
Complementary to Hydrogen HGV Infrastructure
- Projects like the UK’s planned hydrogen HGV refuelling network along the M4 corridor illustrate the wider hydrogen transport ecosystem emerging, which could support both new fuel cell trucks and interim technologies like engine cleaning. (Driving Hydrogen)
Key Takeaways
| Element | Summary |
|---|---|
| Company & Trial | ICL conducted hydrogen cleaning trials on 30 trucks using Engine Carbon Clean technology. (The Chemical Engineer) |
| Results | ~7 % reductions in emissions and fuel costs after two cleaning cycles. (The Chemical Engineer) |
| Next Steps | Contract signed for wider rollout across ICL’s fleet. (The Chemical Engineer) |
| Industry Impact | Adds to broader decarbonisation strategies, seen as a bridge technology toward zero-emission transport. (Driving Hydrogen) |
Community & Public Reactions
Positive Reactions
- Many commentators view the trial as a meaningful step toward carbon reduction for industrial fleets that can’t yet electrify. It demonstrates how incremental improvements can yield real environmental and operational benefits.
Critical Views
- Some experts argue that hydrogen engine cleaning is a stopgap, not a permanent solution, and emphasize that long-term gains depend on zero-emission vehicle adoption and robust green hydrogen production.
Balanced Take
- Most industry voices strike a balanced view: the trial is a practical near-term tool to cut emissions while the transition to fully zero-emission heavy transport continues.