As previously outlined in our article describing three key green hydrogen players based in the United Kingdom, the green hydrogen industry in the nation is considered one of the most mature markets in Europe with a pipeline of 18GW. This growth has been driven by the UK Government with plans to increase capacity to 10GW by 2030. Below, three large-scale green hydrogen projects will be discussed which are developed by firms included in our list of large green hydrogen developers based in the United Kingdom.
Vertex Hydrogen – 1GW HyNet Hydrogen Production Plant HPP2
Vertex Hydrogen is a JV between Essar Oil UK and Progressive Energy which are responsible for designing and developing the UK’s first low-carbon hydrogen production plant. The project is split into two plants: HPP1 and HPP2 and will capture 97% or more of CO2 using industry-leading technology. The hydrogen plant will have an installed capacity of 1GW when fully operational, capturing 1.8m tonnes of carbon per annum. It is estimated an investment of £1bn will be required to realize the hydrogen asset at Stanlow Ellesmere. The project represents a cornerstone of the JV’s ambition to develop 4GW of low-carbon hydrogen by 2030, if they achieve this goal the JV will be responsible for 40% of the UK Government’s national hydrogen target thus, representing the key role the JV has in the future of UK decarbonisation.
Kintore Hydrogen – 3GW Green Hydrogen Production Plant
Kintore Hydrogen is a green hydrogen asset that will be developed by Statera Energy, placing it as one of the largest green hydrogen plants in the UK. Once fully operational, the site aims to have an installed capacity of 3GW producing 200,000 tonnes of hydrogen per annum. The project accounts for 30% of the country’s goal of developing 10GW of green hydrogen by 2030. The project will be located in Kintore, Aberdeenshire, and use excess wind power produced by ScottishWind assets. The hydrogen plant is a flagship of UK energy developer Statera Energy and aims to improve the UK’s energy security which has become increasingly important given the current energy crisis.
Port of Felixstowe – 100MW Green Hydrogen Production Plant
Spanish utility conglomerate Iberdrola’s subsidiary ScottishPower has announced plans to develop a 100MW green hydrogen asset at the port of Felixstowe, requiring an investment of £150m. The project aims to power trains, trucks, and ships at the Port of Felixstowe and will be constructed by ScottishPower which hopes to receive support from the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. Once operational, the 100MW site could produce 40 tonnes of green hydrogen a day which could power 1300 hydrogen trucks. The site will have a key role in decarbonising what is one of the country’s busiest container ports.
Image Source: Susan Q Yin via Unsplash (08.07.2023)
