Five projects in the North East and Yorkshire have been shortlisted to develop hydrogen power and help create jobs.
The schemes in Wallsend and Teesside are among 27 schemes around the country which have been selected for the next stage of the Government’s Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2). The funding scheme aims to help develop hydrogen powered projects, though the Government has warned that not all of the schemes on the shortlist will be successful.
The Government hopes that support for hydrogen will help create thousands of jobs in the sector, as well as providing a more environmentally-friendly source of power.
The shortlist includes the Lhyfe project at Wallsend, Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder in East Yorkshire plus the South Tees Net Zero, Tees Green Hydrogen Phase 2 and Teesside Green Hydrogen projects on Teesside.
Industry Minister Sarah Jones said: “We are deploying hydrogen at a commercial scale for the first time – not just investing in a technology – but investing in British jobs, our proud manufacturing communities and our energy security.
“From distilleries and sustainable aviation fuel to public transport and clean energy generation, hydrogen can power our everyday life and unlock clean energy growth across the country as part of our Plan for Change.â€
Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association, said: “This much-anticipated announcement brings vital clarity to the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s hydrogen sector, providing a crucial boost for projects that will drive forward the country’s low-carbon transition.
“The funding support offered through HAR2 gives our members and the wider industry the confidence to gear up for delivery, unlocking investment, creating jobs, and driving economic growth. This is great news - not just for the hydrogen sector but for the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s ambition to become energy secure and a global leader in clean energy.â€
Schemes around England, Scotland and Wales have been included on the shortlist.
Pierre de Raphelis-Soisan, CEO of Hynamics º£½ÇÊÓƵ, which is part of the consortium behind the Tees Green Hydrogen, said: “This long-awaited announcement is great news for Hynamics º£½ÇÊÓƵ. It confirms the soundness of this project, which will help decarbonise local industries of the Tees Valley. Using hydrogen produced by electrolysis using electricity from EDF Group assets we will build a virtuous ecosystem that will benefit the area.
“We are grateful for the Government’s confidence in this technology of the future.â€
Finlay McCutcheon, managing director of SSE Thermal, part of the Aldbrough scheme, said: “The º£½ÇÊÓƵ Government has been clear on the importance of hydrogen to the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s net zero aspirations and its potential role in a clean power system. Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder will help to showcase how individual aspects of the value chain interact, while also providing much needed electricity to the grid - and is the only realistic opportunity to have a 100% hydrogen-fired power station on the system by 2030.â€
