Leaders meet to secure £500m for hydrogen network
BBCA parliamentary meeting has been held as part of a campaign to get £500m of government money for the Humber region to become the UK's first hydrogen production and storage centre.
Industry leaders, trade unions and politicians discussed how to secure the funding for the Humber Hydrogen project.
National Gas, Centrica, Equinor and SSE Thermal are working together to develop a coordinated hydrogen network linking key sites across the area.
Labour MP Emma Hardy, who sponsored the meeting, said: "The Humber is the best place for Britain's first hydrogen network, which will bring jobs, investment and a huge potential for expansion."
The Humber Hydrogen network would connect projects across the region, including Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage, H2H Saltend, and Keadby Next Generation Power Station.
The network would produce, transport and store hydrogen to be used at different sites to generate energy and for use in industry.
Hardy said: "Humber Hydrogen is about protecting our region's industrial future, driving clean growth and creating greater energy security for the nation."
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the project could deliver up to 3GW of hydrogen production, supporting industries such as chemicals, steel and cement, while unlocking new opportunities in areas like sustainable aviation fuel.
John Wilson, Head of Hydrogen Clusters at National Gas, said the Humber was "the obvious choice".
"Nowhere else can match what it offers as Britain's future hydrogen heartland – industrial demand, infrastructure, supply chains, geological storage and the skilled people needed to unlock Britain's clean energy ambitions," he said.
"Hydrogen offers a win-win solution for British industry – bolstering our energy security, supporting decarbonisation and securing our critical industries' future. Alongside this, it will ensure continued employment to the Humber's skilled workforce and create more local jobs, including for apprentices and graduates.
"We're backing the Humber, and we're asking the UK Government to do the same."
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