Green hydrogen production facility could create 1,400 jobs

Air Products and Associated British Ports (ABP) have today confirmed they will work together to develop the UK’s first large scale, green hydrogen production facility at the port of Immingham.

The facility would import green ammonia from production locations operated by Air Products and its partners around the world.

This would be used to produce green hydrogen, which would decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as transport and industry.

UK Government has plans for 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen to be in production or construction by 2030. But currently there is no significant domestic production of such hydrogen in the UK.

The planned Immingham location is meant to provide the required maritime infrastructure and offer good proximity to markets and the required utilities.

ABP will invest in new infrastructure with a new jetty to service the import and export handling of liquid bulk products.

In addition to handling green ammonia, the jetty is being designed so it can accommodate other cargoes connected to the energy transition, including the import of liquified carbon dioxide (CO2) from carbon capture and storage projects for sequestration in the North Sea.

The project should bring up to £4bn in growth and financial benefits to the region, provide 1,400 direct jobs and about 1,600 indirect jobs for supply chains and local businesses.

Ivo Bols, Air Products’ president, Europe and Africa, said: “Globally Air Products supports the energy transition by developing real, first-mover projects.

“We are forging sustainable hydrogen supply chains with our partners and using our hydrogen knowledge and expertise to accelerate the energy transition.

“We are in positive talks with Government ministers and officials about our plans to invest in UK green hydrogen.  To enable our investment decision, we are seeking some policy assurances that a viable market will exist for our product.”

Henrik Pedersen, ABP’s chief executive officer, added: “ABP and the Humber are at the epicentre of the decarbonisation agenda and we are delighted to work with Air Products on this project, which will help deliver the UK’s legal obligation to be net zero by 2050.

“ABP’s ports are a vital part of the UK’s energy transition, and we are making significant investments to support a range of renewable energy generation projects, including the expansion of Green Port Hull and the transformation of Port Talbot to help deliver the UK’s ambition for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.”