Green hydrogen production at Port of Tilbury to decarbonise LTC construction

GeoPura and Forth Ports have signed a landmark agreement to produce green hydrogen on site at the Port of Tilbury starting this year. This plant will support the decarbonisation of one of the UK’s most important logistics hubs and position Tilbury among the first major British ports to host commercial-scale hydrogen production for heavy industrial use.

image: Forth Ports

The decision comes after GeoPura was awarded the contract to supply 2,5000t of hydrogen to the nearby Lower Thames Crossing, one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure schemes. The new facility will support the project’s goal of becoming the first major project in the UK to be carbon neutral in construction by replacing over 12m litres of diesel, and strengthen the resilience of its supply chain by providing a secure, strategically located source of clean fuel to support construction activity at scale.

Tilbury handles millions of tonnes of cargo each year and its diverse operations utilise an array of plant and equipment, including reach stackers, forklifts and HGV tractor units to keep goods moving. Decarbonising these operations presents an opportunity, not only to reduce carbon emissions, but also to improve local air quality and protect worker health.

Enabled by £2m of Thames Freeport seed capital, the Tilbury green hydgrogen project will also support the decarbonisation of port operations and establish the port as a testbed for low-carbon fuel use in heavy industry.

This project, says the Port of Tilbury, demonstrates how Thames Freeport is using targeted public investment to support innovation in live operational environments, helping businesses adopt new technologies and accelerate decarbonisation across logistics and industrial activity.

Under a 10-year agreement, with an option to extend, GeoPura will develop an initial 1MW low carbon hydrogen production plant. The facility will generate hydrogen via electrolysis which is planned to be powered by on-site solar panels, creating a secure, locally produced supply of zero emission fuel for port operations and the wider Thames Estuary. This will also bring significant investment and skilled green jobs, supporting the skills transition and long-term capability in hydrogen production to the area.

Andrew Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of GeoPura, said the Tilbury project builds on the company’s track record of repurposing strategic industrial sites to produce low carbon fuel. “Following on from our work at HyMarnham Power, where we’re transforming a former coal fired power station into a large-scale low carbon hydrogen production site, Tilbury is another powerful example of how the UK can use its existing industrial infrastructure to produce renewable fuels for the future.

“It’s great to see the clear commitment of the Port of Tilbury to decarbonise its operations. It’s a perfect location to support hydrogen adoption across the Thames Estuary, improving air quality and creating new high quality clean energy UK jobs.”

David Webster, Regional Director – Tilbury, commented, “Forth Ports has a track record of delivering market-leading solutions across low-carbon logistics, sustainable construction and on-site power generation as we pursue our intentionally ambitious goal of becoming a net zero carbon emissions operation by 2042. We are excited to be working with the GeoPura team to deliver green hydrogen generation which represents another significant step on this journey.”

Stuart Rimmer Interim, CEO of Thames Freeport, said, “Hydrogen has a clear role in decarbonising heavy industry and logistics. By supporting this demonstrator at Tilbury, Thames Freeport are helping create the conditions for wider adoption, new investment and skilled jobs across the region. This project shows how freeport programmes can bring together industry partners to test and scale new technologies in real operating environments”.

The announcement comes just a month after Thurrock Council approved outline planning consent for the Tilbury3 143acre expansion plan enhancing Tilbury as a flexible, rail-connected port capable of accommodating a wide range of industrial and logistics activities.