Wrightbus to get £11.2m to develop ‘green bus’ technology

Wrightbus, is to receive £11.2m from the government to develop hydrogen-fuel technology.
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The Ballymena-based bus manufacturer is one of three UK firms to be awarded funding.

The three projects in Cwmbran, Warwickshire, and Ballymena will receive more than £54 million of funding from UK government and industry and are forecast to secure nearly 10,000 jobs across the UK.

Wrightbus is to get £11.2 million to develop and manufacture low-cost hydrogen fuel cell technology for buses and create a hydrogen centre of excellence with Wrightbus in Ballymena.

Ballymena-based bus manufacturer, Wrightbus, is to receive £11.2m from the government to develop hydrogen-fuel technology.
pic credit: Advanced Propulsion Centre UKBallymena-based bus manufacturer, Wrightbus, is to receive £11.2m from the government to develop hydrogen-fuel technology.
pic credit: Advanced Propulsion Centre UK
Ballymena-based bus manufacturer, Wrightbus, is to receive £11.2m from the government to develop hydrogen-fuel technology. pic credit: Advanced Propulsion Centre UK

Announcing the funding, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK is leading the world by developing cutting edge technology that will help to tackle climate change and lead to a green, competitive future for our automotive supply chain. These projects will not only help accelerate the wider application of greener technology in lorries and buses, but will also help generate the high-skilled jobs to level up communities across the UK while ensuring we build back greener from the pandemic.”

This funding announcement builds on the recent launch of the Government’s national Bus Back Better strategy and the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, both of which aim to accelerate the shift to zero emission vehicles and decarbonise the UK’s transport networks.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis said: “Northern Ireland and the local economy thrives on innovation, manufacturing and technological advancements, leading the charge in allowing us to reach our ambitious goal of a net zero future by 2050.

“With a landmark investment of £11.2 million this will enable Wrightbus to become a centre of excellence for zero-emission technology in the heart of Ballymena.

“This is outstanding news for the people of Northern Ireland, protecting more than 1,000 skilled jobs and creating more than 3,000 additional jobs over the next 10 years. This will continue to level up our local economy, allowing Wrightbus to continue producing the next generation of world-leading hydrogen buses.”