Orsted wins Government backing for hydrogen project in Humber area

The new study will look at the delivery of low-cost hydrogen for use in industry

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Phil WinterHull Live Business Editor

11:23, 29 AUG 2019
Updated12:32, 29 AUG 2019

Orsted's East Coast Hub in Grimsby (Image: Twitter / @hobsonporter)

Renewable energy giant Orsted has won funding from the Government to launch a green hydrogen project in the Humber region.

The new study is a six-month project to explore the potential delivery of bulk, low-cost and zero-carbon hydrogen.

The project hopes to find opportunities to reduce the cost of producing hydrogen through the process of electrolysis, making it a more viable option for the ��Ƶ’s energy system and for decarbonising industry.

Ørsted will work with ITM Power and Element Energy on the new hydrogen project, after receiving backing from the ��Ƶ Government.

Matthew Wright, ��Ƶ Managing Director at Orsted, said: “We must continue taking urgent action to limit the damaging effects of climate change.

Matthew Wright, MD at Ørsted (Image: ©Patrick Harrison 2017)

“The ��Ƶ already leads the world in deploying renewable energy and accelerating the use of new technologies, such as green hydrogen, has a crucial role to play in decarbonising industrial processes.

“We’ve seen the cost of offshore wind reduced dramatically thanks to industry and government working together, and I hope this project can be the start of a similar journey with green hydrogen.”

The funding has been secured as part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) hydrogen supply competition, which looks at ways to accelerate the development of low carbon hydrogen supply solutions.

Achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 will need integration of very high levels of renewables into the wider energy system.

Hydrogen is already being used to power cars, pictured (Image: Huddersfield Examiner)

Recognising this challenge, through the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, the industry has committed to establishing a Task Group to identify opportunities to strengthen the role of offshore wind in delivering innovative solutions, such as wind-to-hydrogen.

Anders Christian Nordstrøm, vice president for hydrogen at Orsted, said: “Combining renewable power with flexible green hydrogen production is a key part of decarbonising energy systems across Europe and ultimately creating a world that runs entirely on green energy.

“Hydrogen production by electrolysis is a technology with great potential and this Gigastack project is an important step forward as we look to reduce costs and make green hydrogen a viable solution for the energy transformation.

“It is great to have this support from the ��Ƶ Government for the project.”

Blades destined for Race Bank offshore wind farm at Siemens Gamesa's Green Port Hull. (Image: Orsted)

The Gigastack project will demonstrate the delivery of bulk, low-cost and zero-carbon hydrogen through gigawatt scale polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis manufactured in the ��Ƶ.

Climate Change Minister Lord Duncan said: “Using the power of hydrogen could help cut emissions, create jobs and make industrial processes cleaner and greener, benefitting the whole economy as we work towards net zero by 2050.

“This innovative project from Orsted & ITM Power will help our efforts to roll out hydrogen at scale by the 2030s – a crucial step towards the end of the ��Ƶ’s contribution to global warming.”