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From Suffolk to Pembroke via Aberdeen and the Shetlands, seven hydrogen production and fuel supply projects have secured a share of government funding
A series of hydrogen production projects across England, Scotland, and Wales have been awarded a share of £21m in government funding, in a bid to boost the UK's supply of clean, homegrown hydrogen fuel for use by buses, trains, and local businesses.
Successful bidders for funding include four projects to produce hydrogen for use in a range of industries including automotive and pharmaceuticals, as well as three projects to produce and supply hydrogen as a transport fuel, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Announced yesterday, the seven projects awarded funding are expected to increase the UK's hydrogen production capacity by 800MW, moving the government closer towards its target of having up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity up and running by 2030.
The news came as the government yesterday launched a call for evidence to help design its £960m Green Industries Growth Accelerator fund, which aims to support the expansion of the supply chain for hydrogen, carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS), engineered greenhouse gas removals, and civil nuclear projects.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Claire Coutinho said the government was "cementing the UK's place as a world leader in hydrogen".
"The new projects we're funding across the country will boost our supply of clean homegrown energy for use in buses, trains and local businesses," she added. "By backing the UK hydrogen industry, we can support over 12,000 jobs and up to £11bn in private investment by 2030."
The seven projects include consortium Hydrab Power's plans to develop a network of hydrogen production and refuelling stations in Suffolk to supply a range of customers, including vehicles serving the nearby Sizewell C nuclear site, and plans for a new 5MW electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling station in the Tees Valley to supply the local transport sector.
BP and Aberdeen City Council have also won a share of the funding to develop a new hydrogen hub in the Scottish city to provide cleaner fuel for the local fleet of hydrogen-electric buses, while Veri Energy has secured support to develop a 50MW green hydrogen production facility in Shetland.
Other successful bidders include EDF Renewables and hydrogen transport fuel specialist Hynamics, which have together secured backing to develop a 200MW electrolyser to feed into a proposed e-methanol plant at Teesport that aims to produce low-carbon shipping fuel.
And energy giant RWE has been awarded funding to help develop a 200MW green hydrogen electrolyser facility at its Pembroke power station in Wales, while Grenian Hydrogen has secured support to explore the potential to build a new hydrogen electrolyser facility near Liverpool.
Clare Jackson, CEO of trade association Hydrogen UK, welcomed the series of funding awards. "Today's endorsement of seven pioneering hydrogen projects underscores the transformative power and versatility of hydrogen as a bedrock for secure, clean energy solutions," she said. "Such pivotal announcements fortify the UK's burgeoning hydrogen economy, accelerating us towards meeting our ambitious production."
The announcement follows separate government funding announced in December last year for 11 major new hydrogen production projects, which it expects to support of 700 jobs and unlock £400m in new investment.
Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said the government expected hydrogen "to play a vital role in decarbonising businesses and transport as we work towards meeting our net zero targets".
"These new projects announced today are further proof of our enduring commitment to supporting the UK's growing hydrogen industry on that journey," he said.
Don't forget to get your entries in for this year's UK Green Business Awards ahead of the March 1st deadline.
