EDF plans green hydrogen facility in Teesside

EDF

EDF and Hynamics, a subsidiary of the EDF Group which specialises in hydrogen, have announced investment in a hydrogen production project in Teesside to help decarbonise local industry.

Tees Green Hydrogen will use green electricity from EDF’s 62 MW Teesside Offshore Wind Farm and a new solar farm that EDF Renewables UK intends to build near Redcar, to power a hydrogen electrolyser. In its initial phase, the electrolyser will be 30–50 MW but is designed to accommodate scaleup to more than 500 MW, in line with emerging demand.

The project will supply local businesses with hydrogen to support decarbonisation efforts and significant reduction in industrial pollution. It is being supported by steel manufacturer British Steel and PD Ports, one of the UK’s major port groups.

Arrangements have already been made to supply PD Ports with hydrogen to decarbonise port operations, and it will further explore maritime decarbonisation more widely. Frans Caljé, CEO of PD Ports, said Tees Green Hydrogen will support the company’s internal ambitions to reach carbon neutrality across its Tees-based operations by 2027.

Matt Stockwell, Manager of British Steel’s Teesside operations, said the development would allow British Steel to explore innovative technology options that could support implementation of its low-carbon roadmap and its ambition to deliver net zero steel by 2050. British Steel unveiled its low-carbon roadmap in October last year, which sets out its plans to develop the application of hydrogen in its operations, among other solutions.

Detailed plans for Tees Green Hydrogen will be released later this year, with consultation on the 49.9 MW solar development taking place this month.

Tristan Zipfel, Director of Strategy and Investment Analysis at EDF Renewables UK, said: “Tees Green Hydrogen represents the latest instalment of our investment in Tees Valley, supporting its decarbonisation, reducing pollution, and strengthening the local economy […] We are looking forward to working with the local supply chain in delivering this project and ultimately, in supporting Tees Valley in leading the way on green technology. We are proud to be part of accelerating the area to a net zero future.”

Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley, said: “Our region is already home to ground-breaking clean energy projects that have made Teesside ground zero for net zero, and these EDF projects will further cement our reputation as the go-to place if you want to develop the zero-carbon energy of the future.”

The planned solar and hydrogen facilities will add to EDF’s “already considerable” presence in Teesside, which includes the windfarm at Redcar, operational since 2014, and a nuclear power station in Hartlepool that has supplied low-carbon electricity for nearly 40 years.