Meld Energy greenlit to construct 100 MW green hydrogen plant in Hull

Green hydrogen developer Meld Energy has secured the green light from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to construct a 100-megawatt green hydrogen production facility at Saltend in Hull. The facility involves an investment sum of a £250 million. This initiative aims to establish the Humber as a prime Hydrogen hub, aligning with governmental targets to slash emissions and elevate hydrogen deployment.

Meld Energy is gearing up to construct the green hydrogen production unit at Saltend Chemicals Park, enabling the facility to cater to approximately 30% of the park's current Hydrogen requirements. This substantial upsurge in green hydrogen output anticipates an annual reduction of 125 thousand tonnes of Carbon Dioxide emissions, marking a significant stride towards sustainability.

Saltend Chemicals Park serves as a prominent player among other leading chemical enterprises like BP Petrochemicals Technology, Yara International, Vivergo Fuels, Mitsubishi Chemicals UK, Ineos, and Air Products, alongside the Triton Power station.

Hydrogen stands poised as a substitute for natural gas and a fuel for diverse transportation modes, including buses, heavy-duty vehicles, and automobiles, while also serving as a constituent for clean hydrogen-derived fuels. Its combustion lacks carbon emissions, rendering it compliant with climate-focused legislation. Meld's green hydrogen will be generated via electrolysis, utilizing electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Given the chemical industry's substantial reliance on gas, hydrogen emerges as pivotal in its transition towards net-zero emissions.

In April 2024, Meld Energy tendered an application for funding under the government's Hydrogen Production Business Model's second round. The announcement of successful initiatives is slated for later this year, with the government eyeing support for up to 875 megawatts of hydrogen production overall.

The Humber region, renowned as the UK's industrial epicenter and its largest industrial CO2 emitter, accounting for over 5% of the nation's total emissions, surpassing the next largest region by 50%, emerges as an optimal site for hydrogen generation. The availability of cleaner fuels is imperative for the region's decarbonization journey, providing a significant impetus to the local economy by safeguarding employment opportunities and attracting inward investments.

Meld Energy’s CEO, Chris Smith, remarked that Meld Energy's ambitious plans for the Humber are positioned to expedite decarbonization endeavors in the region. He emphasized that the outline planning approval represents a significant milestone for the advancement of their project, which marks the first of several initiatives they intend to introduce in the Humber and throughout the UK. Smith highlighted that their Saltend Chemicals Park project will facilitate decarbonization for their clientele within the park and establish a foundation for hastening the energy transition while mitigating costs. He expressed utmost excitement regarding this development and eagerly anticipated sharing further details in the upcoming weeks.