A study worth up to £250,000 could pave the way for hydrogen-powered forestry vehicles and machinery across rural mid Wales.

Ceredigion County Council, acting on behalf of the Growing Mid Wales Board, is seeking specialist consultants to assess whether locally produced green hydrogen could provide a practical alternative to diesel in the region's forestry industry. The exploration comes after JCB announced their success in creating a hydrogen powered engine.

The commission forms part of the Datgloi forestry project, which is examining opportunities to reduce carbon emissions from forestry transport, timber processing and other energy-intensive operations.

According to procurement documents published on 16 October, the contract is estimated to be worth between £125,000 and £250,000.

The successful bidder will investigate the technical, financial, operational and environmental feasibility of introducing hydrogen-powered machinery, vehicles and supporting infrastructure.

Consultants will also be required to engage with industry stakeholders, assess potential locations and examine whether the technology could operate effectively within a rural forestry setting.

However, the council has stressed that hydrogen is not being treated as a guaranteed solution.

The study must objectively test existing assumptions and consider alternative or complementary low-carbon technologies before making recommendations.

The proposed work builds on earlier research into using locally generated renewable energy to produce hydrogen for forestry operations.

That research included examining whether wind power could generate fuel for timber-haulage vehicles and machinery currently dependent on diesel.

Under the latest procurement timetable, the consultancy is expected to begin in December and conclude by the end of March 2027.

However, awarding the contract remains dependent on securing the necessary grant funding.

Ceredigion County Council has reserved the right not to proceed if funding is unavailable.

The findings are intended to help determine whether hydrogen technology could offer an achievable and commercially viable route towards reducing emissions across the mid Wales forestry sector.