Exolum Trials Use of Oil Infrastructure for Green Hydrogen in the UK

This week, Exolum launched the world’s first commercial-scale project to transport and store green hydrogen using existing oil infrastructure, leveraging Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC). The trial, located at Immingham, the UK’s largest freight port, aims to explore the viability of LOHCs—organic compounds that absorb and release hydrogen through chemical reactions. This technology enables hydrogen to be stored and transported safely in liquid form, offering a potentially more efficient, cost-effective way to handle hydrogen logistics.

Exolum, one of the largest liquid logistics companies globally, operates a substantial pipeline and storage network in the UK. The company delivers fuel to airports that support nearly 40% of all UK flights annually. By utilizing its existing infrastructure, Exolum plans to accelerate the hydrogen market's growth, offering more flexibility and efficiency. This approach focuses on developing hydrogen storage in key demand areas, such as ports and industrial zones, reducing the need for new infrastructure.

Ignacio Casajús, Exolum’s Global Strategy & Growth Lead, stated that the project offers a "realistic, safe, and affordable" formula for distributing green hydrogen, aligning with existing demand. By repurposing its logistics network, Exolum aims to make a significant contribution to decarbonization and diversify alternative energy sources.

The project is supported by £505,000 in funding from the UK government through Innovate UK's Hydrogen Storage and Distribution Supply Chain Collaborative R&D program. The trial will involve transporting 400 cubic meters of LOHC, containing 20 tonnes of hydrogen, through a 1.5 km pipeline linking Exolum’s facilities in Immingham East and West in the Humber region. Laboratory tests will ensure the quality of the LOHC is maintained throughout the process. The transported hydrogen will power a hydrogen-powered car to travel 2 million kilometers.

Exolum expects that its UK facilities will be able to distribute 4.6 TWh of hydrogen annually, meeting 30% of the UK government’s 2030 demand forecast. The initiative advances the UK's Clean Power Mission 2030 by replacing existing underground storage with terminals located nearer to consumption points.

Since its UK operations began in 2015, Exolum has grown to be the sole independent provider for fuel storage and distribution via pipelines, with 22 storage terminals and a total capacity of 2.4 million cubic meters. Alongside this green hydrogen project, Exolum is developing a hydrogen production plant and refueling station in the Tees Valley as part of the Hydrogen Vehicle Ecosystem project. This will include a water electrolyzer powered by renewable energy. The company also completed Spain's first integrated green hydrogen production and dispensing plant, supporting heavy transport decarbonization, and is involved in several other hydrogen infrastructure projects.