Leading energy companies Equinor and SSE Thermal have awarded two key contracts as they move closer to developing a hydrogen storage facility at Aldbrough.
The progress milestones, described as reinforcing the commitment to kickstarting a low carbon hydrogen economy in the region, cover feasibility and permits.
They go to engineering company Atkins and sustainability consultancy Environmental Resources Management.
Read more: Humber Energy Board to unite estuary leaders in quest to deliver 2040 Net Zero ambition
The Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage project collaboration aims to form one of the world’s largest facilities either within the existing natural gas storage facilities or at a new site adjacent.
It could be in operation by early 2028, with an initial expected capacity of at least 320 Gigawatt hours. That could keep almost 900 hydrogen buses on the road for a year.
Atkins will conduct a feasibility study to assess the design of the hydrogen storage caverns as well as pipeline transportation linking with the proposed Humber Low Carbon Pipelines being developed as part of the Zero Carbon Humber consortium.
It will provide the foundation for the next phase of scoping work and also includes the option for subsequent pre-front end engineering design work.
Dr David Cole, market director for net zero energy at Atkins, said: "We are delighted to be working with Equinor and SSE Thermal to progress the development of a hydrogen storage facility at Aldbrough as part of the Zero Carbon Humber partnership.
“Hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in fuelling the UK’s net zero ambitions, and energy storage will be critical in creating a resilient, reliable energy system in the future. The Aldbrough project has world-leading ambitions and we look forward to sharing our expertise in both this emerging technology and in storage and caverns. ”
ERM’s contract covers the environmental, health, safety and permitting aspects of the scheme.
As reported, hydrogen storage is seen as pivotal in creating a large-scale low carbon economy, supporting fuel switching for domestic and industrial heat and heavy transport, while aiding flexible power generation
Equinor has laid out an ambition to reach 1.8GW of hydrogen production in the Humber, over a third of the Government’s UK-wide target by 2030. It recently announced plans to assess hydrogen town trials in northern Lincolnshire.
Its H2H Saltend scheme will be submitted to the second phase of the Government’s cluster sequencing process later this month.
Dan Sadler, vice president of UK low carbon solutions at Equinor, said: “Equinor has ambitious plans to develop a hydrogen economy in the Humber, including production, usage and storage, which will make it an international beacon for low carbon energy. We are delighted to award contracts to two leading British companies that bring real expertise in their field and can help to make this ambition a reality.”
SSE will be a key user at Keadby, where plans are advancing for the first at-scale wholly hydrogen-fuelled power station, in a joint venture with Equinor.
Oonagh O’Grady, head of hydrogen development at SSE Thermal, said: “We know hydrogen storage will be crucial in creating a large-scale hydrogen economy in the UK, balancing production and demand and accelerating the transition to net zero. The contracts awarded to Atkins and ERM represent an important milestone in our plans for hydrogen storage at Aldbrough, which would play a major role in building a low-carbon future in the Humber.”
The two companies co-own the existing facility, commissioned in 2011 at a cost of £290 million. It features nine underground salt caverns - each the size of St Paul’s Cathedral.
Make it a new year's resolution to sign up for our free daily newsletter from the region that matters most to you, and follow BusinessLive Humber on Twitter and LinkedIn.
