A contract to support the delivery of a hydrogen production plant, refuelling and distribution hub in Holyhead has been awarded to a Scottish clean energy firm.
Logan Energy has won a contract with Welsh social enterprise Menter Môn for the project.
The Holyhead Hydrogen Hub will be a first of its kind in Wales and is supported by Anglesey County Council and the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund.
The hub aims to create 20-30 initial jobs and will help support over 500 local businesses while bolstering low carbon infrastructure capabilities as the country moves towards a green recovery.
Edinburgh-based Logan Energy will be leading a consortium of local businesses and specialists to undertake the pre-works and development of the ‘hub and spoke’ facility in Holyhead.
Those involved include Olwg Ltd, Cadnant Planning, Stronachs LLP, and local Environmental Consultant, Patrick Bigham.
Ynys Môn MS Rhun ap Iorwerth said the hub could offer "greener and longer-term jobs for generations to come".
The current fuel demands of heavy industry goods vehicles in the Holyhead area are large due to the port and an initial study has identified a supply rate of over 400kg/day can kick-start the Hub which could be established by 2023.
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Scale-up can extend to trains, public transport, and shipping, and will include diversification to other hydrogen markets such as heat, industry, power, and agriculture.
With a target operational date of 2023, this project will be the first to be developed in Wales under a Hub & Spoke model, which will see collaborations with complementary developments in other regions of Wales, the 海角视频, and the Republic of Ireland.
CEO of Logan Energy Bill Ireland said: "There are huge renewable resources offshore – both tidal and wind – which together present a compelling case to develop a hydrogen supply-chain on Anglesey through this project.
“Kick-starting a local, sustainable hydrogen supply-chain under the control and majority ownership of a local entity is key to enabling local benefit and longer-term success, ensuring Holyhead and surrounding areas can pave the way for wide-scale low-carbon infrastructure in the region while developing a local workforce skilled in hydrogen technology.
"Such an ownership model will support the Welsh Government’s aim of increasing benefit from new energy generation and reaching its net zero targets by 2050.”
Dafydd Gruffydd, managing Director of Menter Mȏn said: “Wales is determined in its efforts to combat the effects of climate change and start building a sustainable future.
"For this, a robust low-carbon economy is crucial. Holyhead Hydrogen Hub represents a huge step forward in our plans to decarbonise the transport industry while supporting local jobs and business and by working collaboratively across North Wales.
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“The key advantage of this project is its scalability. While the plant aims to provide an initial fuel supply of 400kg per day, there is impressive potential to expand the hub to support additional heavy transport demands as well as the country’s public transport network services and emerging markets in heat and industry.”
The project has already gained a wide positive response from local employers such as Stena Line and major haulage companies such as Delivery Solutions and Gwynedd Shipping.
The Hub has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 1,700 tonnes per year, supporting carbon-intensive industries to adapt and thrive in a green economy.
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Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS Ynys Môn said: “This is great news for Ynys Môn. I led a Senedd debate last year, setting out my vision of the real potential of Hydrogen energy, and here we see those benefits being realised on Anglesey. I’m delighted to see this significant move forward, with thanks to the work of Menter Môn.
“It’s good to see energy innovation in action, and we in Plaid Cymru are committed to setting up the headquarters of a new national energy company, Ynni Cymru, here on the island, giving Anglesey a key role in green energy rollout Wales-wide for years to come.
"This hydrogen project in Holyhead is about offering greener and longer-term jobs for generations to come.”