Wales & West Utilities (WWU) is devising plans for a hydrogen network in North Wales.
A feasibility study – delivered in partnership with Apollo Engineering – will provide a detailed assessment of the infrastructure needed to advance opportunities for hydrogen in Wrexham and Deeside.
In particular, the study will recommend how industrial and commercial customers can make use of existing infrastructure to adopt a hydrogen network.
This will include links with HyNet – which is developing core hydrogen and carbon dioxide pipeline infrastructure for the North West industrial cluster, with links in to North Wales.
WWU said the plans could be implemented in the early 2030s if deemed feasible.
The scheme will also suggest changes to the current method for implementing industrial cost-sharing ‘infill’ schemes, which allows customers to share the cost of adopting a hydrogen network, and could reduce the cost of rolling out hydrogen for industry.
Matt Hindle, WWU head of net zero and sustainability said: “The 2020s must be a decade of delivery. Hydrogen will be vital to decarbonise industry, retaining jobs and developing new low carbon opportunities. We’re delighted to be launching this project with support from a range partners in industry, in line with the UK government’s Net Zero plans.
“Our hydrogen plans will build on Wales’s industrial heritage and kick-start the Green Industrial Revolution within the North East Wales cluster, to create a trusted, sustainable, prosperous and resilient industry that the citizens of Wales can continue to be proud of.”
The National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC’s) second National Infrastructure Assessment, published last month, backed the creation of a hydrogen pipeline network connecting the key source of production and supply across Great Britain.
While the Commission ruled out hydrogen in home heating, it said it will play an important role in industry.
Last week, NIC chair Sir John Armitt spoke to Utility Week following the assessment and laid out the role hydrogen has to play. Click here to read the interview in full.