Energy companies launch partnership to develop Humber hydrogen network
A group of major energy companies has formed a partnership aimed at developing hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure in the Humber, as part of efforts to establish what could become the UK’s first integrated hydrogen network.
image: Humber Hydrogen Pipeline
The initiative, called Humber Hydrogen, brings together SSE, Centrica, Equinor and National Gas. The companies plan to jointly develop infrastructure linking hydrogen production, storage and industrial demand across the Humber region.
The partnership intends to submit proposals under the UK government’s Hydrogen Transport and Storage business model process, which will determine the location of the country’s first integrated hydrogen transport and storage network. The programme could involve funding of around £500m to support early infrastructure development.
The proposed network would combine several existing and planned projects in the Humber cluster, including the Humber Hydrogen Pipeline and the Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage development. These facilities are intended to connect hydrogen production sites, storage caverns and major industrial users across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Key locations in the proposed system include Easington, Saltend, Aldbrough, Immingham and Keadby. Hydrogen produced at facilities such as H2H Easington and H2H Saltend could total up to around 3 GW of capacity.
The Humber region is regarded as the UK’s most carbon-intensive industrial cluster and hydrogen infrastructure is being promoted as a way to support the decarbonisation of sectors that are difficult to electrify, including heavy manufacturing, chemicals, steel and power generation.
The development of hydrogen networks could allow companies to replace fossil fuels with hydrogen for industrial heat and energy. This could also enable the production of other low-carbon fuels and products, including ammonia and sustainable aviation fuel.
The proposed Humber network could also connect to a future national hydrogen transmission system being developed by National Gas, potentially linking the region’s hydrogen supply with other industrial clusters across the UK.