Centrica, Equinor plan hydrogen hub in East Yorkshire

Centrica and Equinor have signed a co-operation agreement to explore developing a low-carbon hydrogen production hub at Easington in East Yorkshire, the companies said on November 3.

The plan would support the Humber’s decarbonisation ambitions and help the UK meet its net zero goals and hydrogen production targets, they said.

Currently up to one third of the UK’s total gas supply enters via Easington, much of it from Equinor’s Norwegian facilities. Easington is also situated close to offshore wind farm developments, offering huge potential for both blue and green hydrogen production.

“The area is also earmarked as one of the landing point for the East Coast Cluster’s carbon capture pipeline, which would transport CO₂ for safe storage deep under the seabed. As such, it is a key location within the zero carbon Humber partnership which is planned to provide regional hydrogen and CO₂ pipelines between the area’s major energy producers and carbon intensive industries,” the companies said.

In response to the ongoing energy crisis, Centrica has secured licences and consents to use Rough to strengthen the UK’s security of natural gas supply in the near term. Centrica is advancing plans to convert its Rough offshore gas storage facility for hydrogen storage as part of its transition to a net zero future.

The UK government recently doubled its 2030 hydrogen production ambition to 10 GW capacity, with at least half coming from electrolytic green hydrogen. Equinor has ambitions to deliver nearly one fifth of this national target by generating 1.8GW of hydrogen production within the Humber region by 2028, beginning with its flagship H2H Saltend project.

Centrica and Equinor expect that the conversion of the Easington terminal could produce an additional 1 GW of low carbon hydrogen production coupled with the around 200 MW off-taker demand.