Four major energy companies – SSE, Centrica, Equinor, and National Gas – have launched a joint bid to develop the UK’s first integrated hydrogen transport and storage network in the Humber region, with a potential £500 million investment at stake. The collaboration, dubbed ‘Humber Hydrogen,’ aims to establish a “hydrogen heartland” and participate in a government competition to determine the location of the network.
The initiative will see the companies combine their expertise in hydrogen production, transportation, usage, and storage. Proposals will be submitted under the Government’s Hydrogen Transport and Storage Business Model processes, a competitive framework designed to spur the development of hydrogen infrastructure. The network will encompass the Humber Hydrogen Pipeline and Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage, connecting projects across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, including sites at Aldbrough, Easington, Saltend, Immingham, and Keadby.
According to a statement released by the companies, the proposed network is designed to link hydrogen production facilities with industrial customers and power stations. Up to 3GW of hydrogen could be produced at the H2H Easington and H2H Saltend plants combined. The network is also intended to connect to a national hydrogen transmission network currently under development by National Gas, facilitating the transport of hydrogen to industrial clusters across Britain.
The Humber region was specifically chosen due to its existing industrial demand, infrastructure, supply chains, geological storage potential, and skilled workforce, according to Ian Radley, Chief Commercial Officer at National Gas. “Nowhere else in Britain can match what it offers,” he stated. The project aims to support industrial decarbonisation in the Humber, the UK’s most carbon-intensive industrial cluster, by enabling a shift away from fossil fuels in sectors like heavy manufacturing, chemicals, steel, and power generation.
The development also has the potential to foster the production of high-value products such as ammonia and sustainable aviation fuel. Ian Livingston, Head of UK Hydrogen & Ammonia at Equinor, emphasized the importance of the Humber as a starting point for a new low-carbon economy in the region. “The geology, concentration of industry and existing skills base make this the natural home for the UK’s first hydrogen transport and storage network,” Livingston said.
Martin Scargill, Managing Director of Centrica Energy Storage +, highlighted the opportunity for the UK to accelerate low-carbon economic growth and strengthen its leadership in hydrogen. “By backing the Humber, the Government can drive industrial decarbonisation, boost competitiveness, and create thousands of skilled jobs,” Scargill stated. Centrica has invested in infrastructure and personnel in the Humber region, positioning itself as a key player in the project.
Local MPs have voiced their support for the initiative. Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, stated the need for government support to bring investment back to the Humber. Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, described the Humber as the “ideal place” for the UK’s first hydrogen network, citing its geological advantages and the potential benefits for local industries. Richard Gwilliam, Chair of the Humber Energy Board, called a positive government decision on the bid a “game-changer” for the region’s economy and energy security.
The outcome of the government’s competitive process remains pending, with a funding decision expected to determine the location of the UK’s first integrated hydrogen network.
