First Electric Telehandler of its Kind in the UK Arrives at Coleg Glynllifon
As part of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai's Hydrogen strategy, Coleg Glynllifon has been loaned a Merlo all-electric telehandler from GNH Agri.
This is the first telehandler of its kind in the UK, and the college is the first educational institution to get the opportunity to use it.
Merlo's telehandler Generation 0 will be available for use at the college for a few weeks, where staff and students plan to fully get to grips with the new technology.
A telehandler is a machine widely used in agriculture and industry, and is somewhat like a forklift but has a boom, making it more a crane than a forklift. The boom can be fitted with different attachments, such as a bucket, pallet forks, muck grab, or winch.
The Merlo eWorker is the result of years of research to find an alternative solution to vehicles with diesel engines within the industry. Merlo claims to have created a vehicle that not only reduces noise and emissions, but also offers a high level of performance.
The college group’s newly-launched Hydrogen strategy proposes to:
· Deliver training on the installation of domestic and commercial hydrogen systems in partnership with Worcester Bosch at the new Zero Carbon Training centre at CIST in Llangefni
· Develop expertise on the use of hydrogen for heavy and domestic vehicles
· Use hydrogen to decarbonise its farm at Coleg Glynllifon
· Investigate fully powered hydrogen heating on some of the Grŵp’s main buildings
· Introduce skills programmes for storing, managing, and transporting Hydrogen.
Dafydd Evans, Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s chief executive explained: "We believe that the further education sector can play a major role in meeting the government's net zero targets here in Wales. It is clear, as part of the decarbonisation agenda, that there will be an increasing demand for low carbon hydrogen over the coming years. We want to be an early adopter of hydrogen technology and continue to innovate as we meet the ongoing challenges of climate change.
Esmor Wyn Hughes from Coleg Glynllifon said: "The trial of this new electric telehandler from GNH Agri and Merlo really represents a significant step forward for us as a college, in our quest to move the environmental agenda forward. It is very easy to use, and this is a great opportunity for our students to start learning now about the kind of machines that will surely become more prominent in agriculture over the forthcoming years.”
