In the north west of England, Progressive Energy, HyNet founding partner Statkraft, and investment firm Foresight will collaborate to construct green hydrogen projects.
The group has a collaboration agreement in place that calls for the creation of numerous green hydrogen projects.
Up to 180,000 tonnes less carbon dioxide will be emitted by industry during the first phase of 100MW of projects.
The projected 28MW Cheshire Green Hydrogen project, which will use sustainably produced electricity from Foresight’s operated Frodsham wind farm in Cheshire, is the centrepiece of the portfolio.
Additional green electricity will be purchased for the project from wind and solar power plants within Statkraft’s project portfolio.
The Protos facility will be home to Cheshire Green Hydrogen, which will provide low carbon hydrogen through the HyNet project’s anticipated pipeline.
The hydrogen may be provided to local businesses, including Encirc, a significant local company that makes container glass, as well as Cadent’s projected Hydrogen Village in Whitby.
A portfolio of green hydrogen projects that are immediately co-located at significant manufacturing facilities in the area, such as those at Pilkington and Kellogg’s, is another goal of the collaboration.
For the first phase of development, five “hydrogen-ready” locations have been chosen, and conversations are still ongoing about many other sites.
The alliance will produce green hydrogen at each co-located location using power purchased from Statkraft’s project portfolio’s larger wind and solar capacity.
This will be utilised to power manufacturing processes instead of fossil gas.
Each plant will be linked to the HyNet hydrogen pipeline network, opening the door to prospective development to service other industries.
According to the collaboration, hydrogen will be safely stored within HyNet’s subterranean salt caverns, enabling secure storage for locally produced energy and enhancing the UK’s overall energy security.
Adam Baddeley, Progressive Energy head of industrial hydrogen, said “The north west is an ideal place to deploy green hydrogen production.”
“Not only can it be distributed at low-cost via the HyNet pipeline network, but we have a large number of industry sites ready and enthusiastic to switch to low carbon hydrogen from fossil gas.”
“Progressive Energy is proud to be leading this consortium which we hope will bring the first large-scale dedicated green hydrogen production to the region.”
Head of RES eFuels at Statkraft UK, Matt Kelly, added “Producing home-grown green hydrogen is a key part in helping the UK to move to a more sustainable future and is a crucial part of the future energy mix.”
“We’re excited to build on our recent green hydrogen announcements in the UK and build on the expertise in this consortium to bring these projects to fruition in the north west of England.”
Joe Davies, Associate Director at Foresight, said “The partnership with Progressive and Statkraft constitutes Foresight’s second hydrogen investment this year and first in the UK.”
“We are very pleased to be making this investment in the north west and we see an important role for hydrogen in the decarbonisation of industry. We are supportive of the HyNet industrial cluster.”
