by Angus Young
A new push to place the Humber at the forefront of the UK’s decarbonisation agenda could bring significant investment and new jobs to Holderness.
Published just ahead of last month’s Budget, the Humber Energy Board’s Delivering the Vision report includes a “clear and credible plan” for cutting emissions from the region’s most intensive carbon-reliant industries.
It says 20,000 jobs could be created across the Humber backed by £15 billion of private investment if supported by the Government. Should it happen, much of the focus is likely to be in Holderness, where a cluster of carbon storage and hydrogen projects are currently in the pipeline awaiting a final go-ahead.
Earlier this year, energy firms Centrica, Equinor and SSE Thermal confirmed plans for a collaboration of multiple low-carbon hydrogen projects in Holderness.
Key locations include Easington, which is the land-based link to a proposed offshore carbon capture initiative being jointly developed with Teesside by Northern Endurance Partnership. Easington is also the site of a mooted new low-carbon hydrogen production hub at the current gas terminal site.
A similar switch to hydrogen is also envisaged at Saltend, currently one of the region’s most carbon-intensive sites, while the underground salt caverns at Aldbrough are seen as potential storage space for locally produced green or blue hydrogen.
The big picture also includes 30 miles of underground hydrogen pipelines connecting Easington, Aldbrough and Saltend as well as offering connectivity to similar industrial clusters on the South Bank with pipelines under the estuary.
Richard Gwilliam, chairman of the Humber Energy Board, said: “Businesses across the Humber are ready to invest over £15 billion in decarbonisation projects that will drive growth, protect energy security, create tens of thousands of jobs and slash our carbon emissions.
“In this report, we set out the policy support needed to unlock this investment, including the creation of a regional carbon capture storage network, new hydrogen markets and power grid upgrades.
“We believe the transformation and decarbonisation of the Humber is essential to delivering the economy of the future and the UK’s ambitious climate change targets but time is ticking.
“Unless there is urgent action from the UK government, we could see businesses take their money elsewhere, prioritising overseas rather than in this key geography for UK energy security.”
A recent £21.7 billion government funding announcement for carbon capture and hydrogen schemes only included previously favoured projects in Teesside and the North West after the Humber’s bid was surprisingly overlooked last year.
However, industry insiders in the Humber say the latest funding support has sent a positive signal by the new government of its commitment to both the technology and the process despite continuing concerns from environmental campaigners.
All eyes locally are now on the next stage of the funding process when projects such as those being worked up at Saltend and Easington can apply to be connected to bigger platforms, such as the Northern Endurance Partnership.
A decision on these applications is expected to be made by the Government before the end of the year.
