The UK’s hydrogen revolution has taken a huge step forward, with ten commercial-scale green hydrogen projects now signed off to start construction.
Backed by £400 million in private investment and 700 new jobs, the schemes will fuel heavy industry with clean, homegrown energy.
From Teesside to South Wales, Bradford to North Scotland, spades will soon hit the ground.
The projects form the first wave of the government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), supporting the transition away from fossil fuels across key sectors like steel, glass and heavy transport.
“This government is rolling out hydrogen at scale for the first time,” said Industry Minister Sarah Jones. “Hydrogen will help us cut industrial emissions and support Britain’s industrial renewal by creating thousands of jobs in our industrial heartlands as part of the Plan for Change.”
The HyMarnham project in Nottinghamshire is already under way, turning a former coal power station into a clean energy hub.
In the northeast, the Cromarty Hydrogen Project’s 35MW electrolysers will supply nearby distilleries and industrial users.
Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Andrex and Kleenex, has become the first major UK consumer goods firm to back green hydrogen, announcing a £125 million investment across two HAR1 projects in Cumbria and Kent, in partnership with HYRO, Carlton Power and Schroders Greencoat.
Alongside construction news, the government unveiled a £500 million funding boost for Britain’s first hydrogen transport and storage network – a crucial step in connecting producers to end users like power stations and manufacturers.
Plans to consult on transmission-level hydrogen blending were also revealed.
This would explore mixing hydrogen into the UK’s existing gas networks to deliver it into homes and businesses.
Officials say this could cut costs for hydrogen producers and the wider system, while potentially reducing consumer bills.
“This announcement marks a significant and encouraging milestone for the UK’s hydrogen sector,” said Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association. “The signing of contracts for 10 projects under HAR1 provides vital momentum and confidence for industry and investors alike.”
Neil McDermott, CEO of the Low Carbon Contracts Company, added: “These agreements provide revenue stability for producers and a clear signal that low-carbon hydrogen has a key role to play in the UK’s future energy system.”
Hydrogen to re-industrialise fossil fuel heartlands appeared first on Energy Live News.