Marubeni Europower has submitted plans to develop a green hydrogen production facility in Bridgend, named the HyBont Green Hydrogen Project. The £31m facility will generate hydrogen by splitting water into its component parts through the use of electrolysers powered by electrical energy.
The facility will also have a hydrogen storage unit, a hydrogen refuelling station, and a backup generator. The project is aimed at supplying green hydrogen to refuse collection vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, and local and regional buses that use the Brynmenyn site refuelling station dispensers. The project is also expected to serve heat users at the Ynysawdre Cluster via a 1.2 km underground pipeline.
The facility will cover an area of approximately one hectare, with a large proportion of the site used for roads and paving to allow adequate access for the re-fuelling of heavy vehicles, including an outer perimeter road. The site will also feature an admin building, substation, and hydrogen pipeline ‘off-take’, along with access, parking, security fencing, and drainage infrastructure. The solar farm at Bryncethin will supply a proportion of the power needed for the project. The proposed facility will produce 443 tonnes of hydrogen annually and is expected to be completed by 2025.
The HyBont project has been shortlisted for the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, which aims to support the development of green hydrogen projects in the UK. The proposal has already undergone consultation with the local community, and a feedback and information session before being submitted to Bridgend County Borough Council for approval. The Planning Authority will consult on the proposal before making a recommendation to the Development Control Committee, which will determine the planning application.
George Dodd, Senior Vice President at Marubeni Europower, said the HyBont project would contribute to the Council and Government’s aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. He also added that the development would bring economic benefits to the local community by creating jobs and promoting sustainable growth in the region.
The proposal is expected to significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions by supplying green hydrogen to transportation and heating systems. The HyBont project is a clear example of Marubeni Europower’s commitment to renewable energy and its efforts to support the UK Government’s net-zero emissions target.
