New hydrogen production facility destined for city

Government funding has been granted to build one of the UK’s largest hydrogen production plants on the same location which supplied gas to the people of Bradford nearly 100 years ago.

A conventional gas storage site which served Bradford since the early 20th century, will be converted into a hydrogen facility for the 21st century.

Bradford’s Birkshall Gasworks was built in the 1930s to meet the city’s heating needs. Advances in technology and the enhanced capability of the modern-day gas network saw the removal of the facility’s conventional gas holders in 2022.

N-Gen Energy Solutions Ltd (N-Gen) will work in a joint venture with Hygen Energy Holdings and Ryze Hydrogen at this site to deliver one of the UK’s largest low hydrocarbon production facilities. It will use renewable energy to power an electrolyser that will produce green hydrogen.

Once built, the plant will generate hydrogen from low carbon energy sources and will incorporate a hydrogen vehicle refuelling station for local buses and public and private sector fleets.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: “This hydrogen facility in Bradford will be the UK’s first ever dual energy Zero Emission refuelling station catering for both battery electric and hydrogen refuelling electric vehicles.

“Tackling climate change is important to Bradford whilst at the same time building a sustainable and prosperous economy that works in the interests of everyone and minimises waste and the use of finite natural resources.

“Research shows clean growth could add £11bn to the city region economy and create 100,000 extra skilled jobs for local people and we want Bradford to be part of this new industrial revolution.”