Tees Valley Mayor has today (17 March) hailed a £3million Government
investment and master plan to kick-start the UK’s first ever
hydrogen hub being created in the region.
The hub, which could be fully operational by 2025, could also
create up to 10,000 new jobs across the region and wider
North-East over the next 30 years.
It will bring together government, industry and academia to focus
research, testing and trials across all modes of transport,
supporting a clean energy recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
By creating real world hydrogen transport pilots, it will also
help to understand how hydrogen can be used to meet Government’s
2050 net zero ambitions.
The facility is just one of a number of projects announced to
help the Tees Valley become a clean energy powerhouse for the UK.
It was recently revealed that GE Renewable Energy is establishing
a wind turbine blade manufacturing site on Teesworks, alongside a
£20million Government investment to create a port to serve the
sector. Work is also continuing to establish Net Zero Teesside’s
full-scale carbon capture, utilisation and storage project on the
site, creating the UK’s first decarbonised cluster by 2030.
Mayor Houchen said: “From offshore wind manufacturing, carbon
capture, utilization and storage and hydrogen, make no mistake
Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are at the forefront of
powering forward the UK’s clean energy ambitions.
“Our region already produces more than 50% of the UK’s hydrogen
so it was a no-brainer for the Government to set up the UK’s
first Hydrogen Transport Hub in Teesside so we can properly
utilise this and fully unleash our area’s potential.
“Growing the clean energy sector across Teesside, Darlington and
Hartlepool is a key part of my plan for jobs, a plan that is
delivering the clean, high-skilled, well-paid jobs which are
essential for our future.
“From Net Zero Teesside to last week’s momentous announcement
that GE Renewables will build the UK’s first ever factory to
build blades for offshore wind turbines right here in Teesside,
we are making huge progress. But there is so much more to do and
we cannot put at risk what we have achieved.
“Teesside has led the world in steel manufacturing and
engineering for generations. Now we are leading the world in the
industries of the future.”
Transport Secretary said: “By harnessing the power of hydrogen
technology, we have the opportunity to bring long-term prosperity
right across the country.
“The Hub will establish the UK as a global leader in hydrogen
technology, paving the way for its use across all transport modes
and propelling us towards our net-zero goals.”
Pop-up trials could see shops, supermarkets, online retailers,
warehouse operators and delivery companies using hydrogen-powered
transport to move goods and carry out last mile deliveries.
It could also see local transport operators working with the
transport research and development sector to deliver
emission-free hydrogen passenger services, such as on demand
regional buses, or zero-emission refuse vehicles.
The facilities within the hub also include a Research &
Development campus for the creation and sharing of knowledge, so
the Hub can act as a living lab to understand the role of
hydrogen as part of the energy transition in the transport
sector.
