National Gas has unveiled the first phase of Project Union, mapping out pipelines from Teesside through Yorkshire and the Humber to the East Midlands as part of a wider 1,500-mile hydrogen system.
The plan is designed to connect major industrial hubs and create a clean energy corridor for sectors that cannot easily electrify.
Early estimates suggest the project could support around 3,100 jobs at peak construction and deliver £300 million a year in economic value.
National Gas chief commercial officer Ian Radley said: “This is a hugely significant moment… delivering the infrastructure that will secure Britain’s place as a world leader in hydrogen.”
He added the East Coast was “the ideal region to begin developing a network that can then scale across the country.”
The network will repurpose existing gas pipelines where possible while building new infrastructure to transport 100% hydrogen.
It will also link into the Humber Hydrogen cluster backed by major players including Centrica, Equinor and SSE Thermal.
Industry says the backbone network is critical to unlocking investment and keeping heavy industry competitive.
Hydrogen UK chief executive Clare Jackson said: “Developing a hydrogen backbone is essential to unlocking investment, driving economic growth and supporting the reindustrialisation of the UK’s energy-intensive regions.”
The project has already secured £164 million in funding from Ofgem as part of early development work.
It is now in a two-year design phase ahead of public consultation later this year.
Ministers and advisers have repeatedly flagged hydrogen infrastructure as key to hitting net zero and strengthening energy security.
The challenge now is delivery at pace, turning early-stage plans into steel in the ground.
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