Ten projects from the first phase of the UK Government’s flagship hydrogen programme (HAR1) are given green light to begin construction.
With an update on the hydrogen market, the government confirmed that 10 projects in the first phase of the flagship hydrogen programme, the Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), can begin construction and support the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower.
The first commercial scale HAR1 project has signed a long-term contract to fuel heavy industry with clean, homemade energy, creating over 700 skilled jobs in Industrial Heartland, UK.
This means that spades can enter the ground across the country, greatly improving the UK’s hydrogen industry and create highly skilled jobs in industrial cities and regions such as South Wales, Bradford (northwest), North Scotland and Teesside (northeast).
The HAR1 project accelerates low carbon transitions
The HAR1 project will support the UK industry in the transition from fossil fuels to domestically produced low-carbon hydrogen, thereby reducing emissions from large industries such as steel, glass and heavy transport.
Construction of the Hymarnham project in Newark, Nottinghamshire has already begun. The project is transforming the old Heimhanham coal-fired power plant into a clean energy hub by using hydrogen decarbonised waste disposal operations.
The Cromarty Hydrogen Project in northeastern Scotland is another of 10 projects. The project’s three 5MW electrolyzers (which use electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen) power local industrial users, including distilleries.
Opportunities for economic growth
The HAR1 project is expected to create more than 700 jobs, including roles as apprentice, graduates, pipefitters and engineers.
It is also expected to attract more than £400 million private capital investments committed between 2024 and 2026, driving economic growth and UK innovation through its change programme.
The update comes as Andrex and Kleenex producer Kimberly-Clark announced that it will become the UK’s first major consumer goods company to make a major commitment to green hydrogen.
Kimberly Clark, along with energy partners Carlton Power and Schroders Greencourt, will invest a total of £115 million in the HAR1 project on two plants, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, Kent and Northfleet.
“This government is deploying waterways for the first time. Ten of the first projects are ready to power the company with clean, homemade energy from Teesside to Devon,” said Industrial Minister Sarah Jones.
“Hydrogen will help reduce industrial emissions and support industrial renewal in the UK by creating thousands of jobs in the industrial centre.”
Hydrogen as part of UK industrial renewal
Today’s announcement follows a review of spending, and as part of the UK’s industrial renewal, the first ever hydrogen transport and storage network added £500 million, connecting hydrogen producers with key end users, including power plants and industries for the first time.
The government has also announced that it will consult on transmission-level hydrogen blending. This assesses the economic and technical feasibility of blending hydrogen and is transported to homes and businesses before being safely transported into the networks that form the backbone of UK gas systems.
Hydrogen transfer blends may reduce the costs of hydrogen production projects and broader energy systems. The consultation also gathers evidence to assess whether hydrogen blends could reduce consumer energy prices.
Lucy Whitford, Managing Director, Res UK&I, explained: “Green hydrogen, created using UK low-carbon energy, will revolutionize our electricity industry and help the UK build a globally competitive zero-carbon economy along the way.”
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