Funding Confirmed for UK’s Largest Hydrogen Facility in Bradford

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed the funding for the construction of the United Kingdom’s largest hydrogen production facility, to be located in Bradford. This initiative, named Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen, involves the redevelopment of a previous gas storage site. It stands as the largest among 11 green hydrogen projects slated to receive a portion of the £2 billion allocated by the government. The Bradford project, which has already secured planning permission, is projected to generate as many as 125 new employment opportunities within the city. The facility will possess the capability to produce 12.5 tonnes of hydrogen daily, which is equivalent to removing approximately 800 diesel buses from West Yorkshire’s roadways each day. Joint venture partners N-Gen and Hygen are responsible for the project’s implementation, with assistance from Bradford Council. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the production of hydrogen will safeguard the future of Bradford’s Birkshall site, a location with a significant history spanning nearly a century. This site previously housed three substantial gas holders, where it produced and stored gas for residential and commercial use within the city. The hydrogen generated at this site is intended to aid the decarbonisation efforts across various sectors, notably heavy transport, encompassing HGVs and buses. Furthermore, it can serve as an alternative to natural gas in industrial applications. Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe stated: “I’m pleased to see the Chancellor announcing this significant investment in Bradford. “The Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen programme will play an important role in helping Bradford deliver on its climate change ambitions as well as bringing investment and green jobs to Bradford.” In a joint statement, Gareth Mills, managing director at N-Gen Energy, and Jamie Burns, director at Hygen Energy, commented: “We were thrilled to hear the Chancellor’s commitment to our Bradford project in this week’s budget and look forward to working with the Government as we deliver this hugely important scheme.”