The Humber region could unlock a £17bn economic benefit and support more than 50,000 jobs if selected by the Government to become a hydrogen infrastructure trailblazer, according to fresh data.
Government Plans for First Regional Hydrogen Network
The Government is formulating plans for the UK's first regional hydrogen transport and storage network, with one industrial region set to receive £500m in funding to deliver the initiative. The Humber is a frontrunner to secure the substantial funding, which could generate thousands of skilled jobs and supply chain opportunities.
The first regional hydrogen transport and storage network would link hydrogen producers with end users, including power stations and industry. New independent analysis by Humber Hydrogen, developed with support from KPMG, demonstrates that awarding the Hydrogen Transport and Storage Business Model to the Humber could unleash £17bn of economic growth, stemming from the construction and operations of the cluster's hydrogen assets.
Job Creation and Environmental Impact
It would also have the potential to support 53,000 jobs during construction and 900 sustained jobs during the operation of the UK's first hydrogen cluster. At its peak, the project would slash up to five million tonnes of CO2 annually from the UK's largest emitting industrial cluster, which currently produces 20 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
The Humber Hydrogen cluster in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire will be delivered by four of Britain's leading energy companies: Centrica, Equinor, National Gas, and SSE Thermal.
Industry and Political Support
Ian Radley, chief commercial officer at National Gas, speaking on behalf of Humber Hydrogen, said: "The Humber's industrial heft makes it the obvious choice as the location of Britain's first hydrogen network. East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire have the industrial demand, infrastructure, supply chains, skilled workforce, and geological assets to deliver Britain's hydrogen capability. Unlocking hydrogen's potential in the Humber will unleash economic growth and propel both the region and Britain into a new era of global leadership in low carbon industry."
Hydrogen serves as an alternative to natural gas and has the capacity to decarbonise power generation across energy-intensive sectors, including heavy manufacturing, chemicals and steel production.
Key Endorsements
Clare Jackson, CEO of Hydrogen UK, said: "This analysis underlines what the hydrogen sector has been saying clearly: hydrogen is a major economic growth opportunity for the UK. The Humber is exactly the kind of industrial region where hydrogen can attract investment, support skilled jobs and help energy-intensive businesses remain competitive. By building the pipelines and storage we need to connect hydrogen production with demand, projects like Humber Hydrogen can help deliver stronger energy security and crucial economic growth for the UK."
Endorsing the scheme's potential, Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, said: "The Humber has long been the UK's industrial powerhouse, and today it stands ready to lead the transition to a clean energy future. Humber Hydrogen represents a historic opportunity to decarbonise industry, deliver clean power, safeguard thousands of skilled jobs, and unlock new investment across our region. I'm proud to support this landmark project and to help champion the Humber's role at the heart of Britain's hydrogen future."
Call for Government Decision
Dr Iain Harris, managing director of Humber Energy Board, added: "This analysis reinforces the strength of the Humber's case to host the UK's first regional hydrogen transport and storage network. The region brings together significant industrial demand, credible hydrogen production, proven salt-cavern storage capacity, world-class port infrastructure and experienced partners ready to deliver. That is why Humber Energy Board is calling on the UK Government to allocate its £500m hydrogen transport and storage support to the Humber and select the region's proposals. Backing the Humber would accelerate industrial decarbonisation, strengthen UK energy security, unlock private investment and create skilled jobs and supply chain opportunities for communities across the region."
Earlier this year, a letter was dispatched to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband from the Humber Energy Board, bearing the signatures of 30 businesses and organisations spanning the region, among them 11 major energy firms, all four local authorities, the Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Humber Freeport, trade unions, colleges, training providers and universities. It outlined the reasons why the Humber represents the perfect location and also cautioned about the consequences should it not be chosen, including potential job losses.
