A planned green hydrogen plant for Barrow is set to enter commercial operation in 2025.
The first of its kind in Cumbria, it will supply hydrogen to Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing facility.
Carlton Power is behind the scheme and it has announced that it has teamed up with specialist investment manager Schroders Greencoat LLP.
They have formed a new joint venture partnership, Green Hydrogen Energy Company Ltd, to accelerate the development of green hydrogen projects in the UK.
The partners are aiming to build a project portfolio in the UK of 500 MW by 2030, substantially contributing to the UK’s leadership position in hydrogen production as well as its energy security and net zero ambitions.
The Barrow scheme is one of first three to be rolled out – the others are in Trafford, Greater Manchester and Plymouth.
Around 200 people will be employed during the construction phase and 10 new jobs will be created when it opens.
The Barrow Green Hydrogen scheme was announced last year and has benefited from the support given by a regional public/private sector consortium of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, Barrow Borough Council, Cadent Gas and Electricity North West, as well as the support of Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell and other Cumbrian MPs.
This project will initially feature a 30 megawatt electrolyser, expected to produce about 3,000 tonnes of hydrogen every year, which is enough zero-carbon energy to supply the equivalent of 10,000 homes.
Carlton Power won government support last month and Schroders Greencoat and Carlton Power are making an initial funding commitment of £200m from funds managed by Schroders Greencoat to build these schemes and future projects.
Carlton Power will manage the development, construction and operation of current and future green hydrogen projects and Schroders Greencoat will lead on the financing of the projects and leveraging its UK renewable energy expertise.
Keith Clarke, founder and chief executive of Carlton Power said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with Schroders Greencoat to develop a significant green hydrogen portfolio in the UK. The decision by Schroders Greencoat, one of the foremost investors in renewable energy in UK and Europe, underlines the strength and quality of Carlton’s projects and our team, as well as confidence in our local development strategy and our decision to work with blue-chip industry off-takers, such as Kimberly-Clark. We want GHECO to be the leading green hydrogen production company in the UK.”
