A project to build a hydrogen storage facility in Dorset has received backing from The Solent Cluster industrial decarbonization group. UK Oil & Gas Plc aims to enter the gas storage market with this project on the Isle of Portland near Portsmouth, close to the Solent Cluster.

Initially, planning approval was granted in 2008 for a methane gas storage project at this former Royal Navy port. However, UKOG now plans to convert the salt cavern for hydrogen storage through its subsidiary UK Energy Storage (UKEn).

Green Hydrogen and Offshore Wind

The company also plans to produce green hydrogen at the site using offshore wind power. The hydrogen storage facility will connect directly to the Solent Cluster via SGN’s H2 Connect pipeline. The project has received various letters of support, including from the Solent Cluster, SGN, Sumitomo, and RWE, which will help UKOG’s application for government hydrogen storage revenue support.

Strategic Importance

Stuart Baker, Solent Cluster executive director, emphasized that hydrogen production, transport, and storage are essential for The Solent Cluster. He noted that members like SGN, RWE, and ExxonMobil plan significant hydrogen facilities. The Dorset project, according to Baker, can enable the decarbonisation of The Solent Cluster and southern UK, providing storage capacity and supply security for the H2 Connect pipeline network.

Key Contributor

Stephen Sanderson, CEO of UKOG and UKEn, stated that the support letters will strengthen UKEn’s application for Revenue Support. He added that the project’s connection to a major UK industrial base offers strategic investors enough comfort. Sanderson expressed enthusiasm for continued collaboration with The Solent Cluster, highlighting the project’s critical role.