Air Products and Associated British Ports (ABP) have announced their desire to collaborate on the development of the United Kingdom’s first large-scale green hydrogen generation facility.
The facility would import green ammonia from manufacturing sites managed by Air Products and its global partners. This would be utilized to produce green hydrogen, which would decarbonize sectors such as transportation and industry that are difficult to mitigate.
Fostering a Sustainable Hydrogen Economy
By 2030, the British government intends to have 10 GW of low-carbon hydrogen in production or under construction. There is currently no major domestic generation of hydrogen in the United Kingdom. Air Products, as an early adopter, seeks to assist drive progress towards the Government’s targets, addressing the pressing job of decarbonizing difficult-to-mitigate sectors and reducing the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Immingham – the foremost port complex in the United Kingdom decarbonizing energy
Air Products and ABP are collaborating to bring a new green hydrogen factory to Immingham Port. The site will provide the necessary maritime infrastructure and will be in close proximity to markets and utilities. ABP will invest in a new jetty and new infrastructure to facilitate the import and export of liquid bulk items. In addition to handling green ammonia, the jetty is being designed to accommodate other energy transition-related cargoes, such as the import of liquified carbon dioxide (CO2) from carbon capture and storage projects for sequestration in the North Sea, thereby playing a significant role in the United Kingdom’s energy transition.
Immingham is located within the largest industrial cluster in the United Kingdom and is in close proximity to potential offshore CO2 transit and storage networks. The initiative is a continuation of an existing Air Products proposal to create the largest blue hydrogen factory in the United Kingdom in Immingham, making the Humber a major center for the generation of low-carbon energy, businesses, and jobs.
Advantages for the UK
The project will provide numerous benefits to Immingham and the United Kingdom, including the elimination of up to 580,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, which is comparable to removing 20,000 diesel HGVs from UK roads, and the reduction of nitrous oxide and particle pollutants. In addition, the project will provide up to $4.6 billion in economic growth and financial advantages for the region, as well as create 1,400 direct jobs and 1,600 indirect jobs for supply chains and local businesses.
This pioneering project drives demand and will contribute to the growth of a local and national green hydrogen market. It will contribute significantly to the government’s objectives to make the United Kingdom a “global leader in low-carbon hydrogen.”
“Globally Air Products supports the energy transition by developing real, first-mover projects. We are forging sustainable hydrogen supply chains with our partners and using our hydrogen knowledge and expertise to accelerate the energy transition,” commented Ivo Bols, Air Products’ President, Europe and Africa. “We are in positive talks with government ministers and officials about our plans to invest in UK green hydrogen. To enable our investment decision, we are seeking some policy assurances that a viable market will exist for our product.”
Henrik L. Pedersen, ABP’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “ABP and the Humber are at the epicentre of the decarbonisation agenda and we are delighted to work with Air Products on this project, which will help deliver the UK’s legal obligation to be net zero by 2050.
“ABP’s ports are a vital part of the UK’s energy transition, and we are making significant investments to support a range of renewable energy generation projects, including the expansion of Green Port Hull and the transformation of Port Talbot to help deliver the UK’s ambition for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.”
