Over £21 million in support will be allocated to seven projects across regions like Suffolk and Shetland, aimed at promoting low carbon hydrogen usage. These initiatives will focus on producing green fuel to power local transport and businesses.
Among these projects, four will concentrate on developing plans for new hydrogen production plants, supplying cleaner fuel to various industries, including pharmaceuticals and automotive, thus enhancing long-term energy security. Additionally, initiatives in Aberdeen, Tees Valley, and Suffolk will commence construction, contributing to the UK’s energy supply by producing home-grown hydrogen for industry and transport.
Noteworthy projects include Suffolk Hydrogen, operated by Hydrab Power, aimed at producing green hydrogen for low carbon service vehicles at the Sizewell C nuclear site. Tees Valley Hydrogen, managed by Exolum, will establish a new hydrogen refueling station to support the local transport sector. Furthermore, the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub, led by BP and Aberdeen City Council, will provide cleaner fuel for the area’s electric bus fleet.
Secretary of State for Energy Security, Claire Coutinho, emphasized the UK’s position as a global leader in hydrogen, citing the new projects funded across the country. These initiatives aim to bolster the supply of clean, domestically sourced energy for buses, trains, and local businesses. By supporting the UK hydrogen industry, the government anticipates facilitating over 12,000 jobs and attracting up to £11 billion in private investment by 2030.
Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Lord Callanan, highlighted the pivotal role of hydrogen in decarbonizing businesses and transport, aligning with the nation’s net zero targets. The announcement of these new projects underscores the government’s steadfast commitment to nurturing the UK’s burgeoning hydrogen industry on the path to sustainability. This commitment is further demonstrated by the recent allocation of over £2 billion for 11 additional green hydrogen production projects, promoting increased domestic energy production.
These 7 projects hold promise in expanding our hydrogen production capacity by 800MW, aiding local communities in reducing emissions as they progress towards achieving net zero targets. Additionally, the government has initiated a call for evidence concerning hydrogen and carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) components of the Green Industries Growth Accelerator.
Introduced during last year’s Autumn Statement, the £960 million Green Industries Growth Accelerator aims to accelerate the development of advanced manufacturing capacity across various sectors, including offshore wind, networks, carbon capture, usage, and storage, hydrogen, and nuclear energy.