The UK’s first supermarket-based Hydrogen filling station has opened at a branch of Sainsbury’s in Hendon, North London.

The new dispenser is one of a network of similar systems being installed across the capital as part of the Innovate UK-funded London Hydrogen Network (LHNE) project.

The 700 bar system, developed by US firm Air Products, is operated in much the same way as a conventional fuel pump, and according to the manufacturer, can refuel a vehicle in less than three minutes.

The LHNE project is part of wider £11m effort to help develop first a network of 15 hydrogen refueling stations in London and then a national network of 65 dispensers aimed at advancing the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

Business Minister Matthew Hancock said: “Hydrogen cars present us with a huge potential economic opportunity and can bolster our internationally renowned automotive industry. We want to make the UK one of the best places in the world to design, manufacture and sell ultra-low emission vehicles but we need the right infrastructure in place.”