North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub plots path to hydrogen-powered region
Analysis predicts region has “more potential than most” when it comes to hydrogen – with a peak of 40,000 jobs set to be created to meet growing demand.
- 41TWh of hydrogen demand anticipated by 2040.
- 5m tonnes of carbon to be saved from release into the atmosphere as industry and transport transition to hydrogen power from fossil fuels.
Research from the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub has found that “hydrogen will play a key part” meeting the region’s future energy needs – peaking at 40,000 jobs during the construction phase, delivering £14bn of investment and saving 7.5million tonnes for carbon from being released into the atmosphere.
The North East and Yorkshire Hydrogen Roadmap finds that hydrogen is “a credible pathway for decarbonisation” for industry in the region and has a “potentially significant role to play” in powering road transport, shipping and aviation.
The report is based around a model which takes data on current projected energy demand and planned asset development to show a picture of how hydrogen supply, distribution and demand could evolve over the next 15 years.
Hydrogen is one of several low/zero carbon energy options which could be used to replace fossil fuels – particularly in energy intensive sectors – and is expected to play a significant role in meeting Britain’s future energy needs and Net Zero ambitions, as set out by the Committee on Climate Change.
If planned projects in the North East and Yorkshire go ahead, demand for hydrogen across the region is expected to reach 41TWh by 2040 – with the biggest demand coming from industry, power and from hydrogen-based fuels being used at ports and airports.
The Roadmap predicts the following trajectory to 2040:
2025
- A number of small production plants will be operational, supplying local demand due to hydrogen pipelines not yet being constructed.
- Early demand is expected to come from early adoption or trials in the transport sector and industry which has agreed to be an early offtaker.
- Planned production of 1.1TWh
2028
- “Significant change” – mainly due to major production projects in the Humber and Tees clusters becoming operational.
- First phase of Northern Gas Networks and National Gas’ ECH pipelines become operational – with 640km of pipeline facilitating bulk transfer between Teesside and the Humber and connections to large industrial sites in Yorkshire.
- Demand now 11TWh
2030
- ECH phase 2 under construction, but wider distribution network “not yet significantly different”.
- Further larger production plants expected to be operational in Humber and Tees to meet “further significant demands from the power sector”.
- Total production capacity expected to reach 7.4GW – supplying the majority of the UK national target of 10 GW.
- Fuel switching to hydrogen expected to begin in the power generated sector.
- Adoption of hydrogen-based fuels for shipping expected to begin.
2032
- Second phase of ECH complete – adding 650 km of pipeline, extended inland to Leeds, Bradford, Doncaster and Knottingley industrial sites.
- Increases in demand in shipping and the industrial sector.
2040
- Final stage of ECH complete – with connections to specific industrial sites and urban areas.
- Two further phases of existing plants takes production to 54 TWh
- Demand increases by 30% driven by uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels at regional airports and additional connections facilitated by ECH in West Yorkshire.
The roadmap also identifies a number of industrial sites as potential locations for hydrogen production due to unsatisfied demand, in particular South Shields, Cudworth and Rotherham.
If the ECH pipeline is not constructed, the report also recommends alternative approaches to meeting regional hydrogen demand, based around a range of smaller sites in West and South Yorkshire linked to glass and chemical production.
In the event of excess production, the Roadmap sets out how locally produced hydrogen could be exported to other parts of the UK or via regional ports to other international locations.
The report also seeks to stimulate greater co-ordination and collaboration between hydrogen producers, local government, business groups, transport bodies, academia and the energy transmission networks across the North East and Yorkshire.
The Hydrogen Roadmap was produced by analysts ARUP and commissioned by the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub, a government-backed partnership of the six Combined Authorities of the North East and Yorkshire working to support the development of local energy projects.
The Roadmap includes a customisable geospatial and temporal digital model which can simulate the future of hydrogen supply, distribution and demand in the Hub region at different points in time, and which is available to Hub partners.
North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub Manager Karen Oliver Spry said:
“This study is designed to provide and impartial and evidence -based view of hydrogen’s role in the decarbonisation of our region. Our stakeholders have told us that while they recognise the enormous potential of hydrogen both to meet the North East and Yorkshire’s future energy needs but in terms of economic growth – but they can be concerned about starting production projects when they can’t be sure about future demand, or converting to hydrogen power when they can’t be sure about future supply.
This roadmap is designed to be a starting point in giving them the certainty and confidence they need.
Yorkshire and the North East is already home to a number an internationally significant hydrogen projects – from the major developments happening on the banks of the Humber and the Tees to the physically smaller but not less ambitious projects in places like Bradford. As this report makes clear, this is a significant opportunity for the region, economically as much as environmentally”.
The report will be launched at today’s Net Zero Live Event in Hull, and will also be presented to attendees at next week’s Regeneration Earth conference in Leeds.
