Hydrogen

UK hydrogen projects

• Pembroke Green Hydrogen Project

  Pembroke Green Hydrogen is being developed on the RWE Pembrokeshire site with an initial project for 110MW green hydrogen production project, with the ambition to scale this up to GW scale in the future.

  The green hydrogen, produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen in an electrolyser, will be used in local industry and as a fuel for future hydrogen-powered Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). Electricity from renewables will power the hydrogen production process, providing a clean zero carbon fuel for end users. The electricity will be delivered via the National Grid and a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and the agreement will be secured before the final investment decision. The project has accepted a connection offer from National Grid.

  Following the completion of a feasibility study with Jacobs in April 2022, we have been completing further engineering and supporting studies for planning and permitting and developing our procurement strategy. The project is looking to submit planning and permitting applications in early 2024.As part of the planning process, we will ensure a robust community and stakeholder consultation.

  The project will be applying for financial support from the UK Government that will help with the operating costs of the electrolyser and possibly the capital cost of the project depending on the final design of the funding round. Subject to being successful in the funding application and receiving planning permission, construction could begin in 2025 with completion late 2026/ early 2027. The project is part of RWE’s “Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC)” initiative which is a key to unlock decarbonisation for South Wales.

• RWE and SGN Green Hydrogen Partnership

  A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between RWE and gas distribution company SGN. The two companies are investigating the development of electrolysers, powered by renewable energy to supply homes and businesses with hydrogen gas via Scotland’s gas network.

  The partnership is investigating the decarbonisation of homes and businesses connected to the networks of Campbeltown, Stornoway, Oban, Thurso and Wick, which are not connected to the mains gas network.

  

  These networks are currently supplied by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), which when swapped with hydrogen could save 21,000 tonnes of carbon each year and decarbonise around 9,500 properties.

  The partnership is defining how much hydrogen is needed, the requirements to convert these networks to hydrogen, and the supply of green electrolytic hydrogen.

  A feasibility study is also underway on a 80-megawatt (MW) electrolyser at RWE’s Markinch CHP biomass plant. This could produce green hydrogen from local and grid connected renewable energy, to connect into SGN’s gas network in Fife. It would build on the work SGN is already undertaking in Levenmouth on their world-first H100 Fife project.

  The knowledge and experience gained from these initial studies will enable a better understanding of the practicalities and economics of the entire hydrogen cycle and will be an important precursor to a potential funding application under the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.

• RWE and Kellas Midstream

  RWE have formed a partnership with Kellas Midstream, a UK based independent energy infrastructure company to explore the potential for large-scale green hydrogen production in Teesside.

  Teesside is an important region committed to playing a vital role in helping the UK achieve its 2050 net zero ambitions by becoming one of the world’s first decarbonised industrial clusters through the production, consumption, and export of low carbon hydrogen.

  RWE and Kellas Midstream have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly progress opportunities for gigawatt-scale green hydrogen production in Teesside in a phased development matched to customer demand.

  

  The hydrogen production site will be located in Teesside close to emerging hydrogen infrastructure and will leverage each of the companies’ leading positions in energy infrastructure and renewables.

  Kellas Midstream owns, manages, and operates a portfolio of critical energy infrastructure in the Central and Southern North Sea, including its CATS (Central Area Transmission System) terminal in Teesside that transports and processes around a quarter of all UK gas production. CATS is also the location for Kellas Midstream’s ground-breaking H2NorthEast blue hydrogen project that will deliver over 1GW of low carbon hydrogen and contribute as much as 10% of the UK’s target hydrogen production by 2030.

• Didcot Green Hydrogen

  RWE is pleased to have been awarded UK Government funding for initial investigative Front End Engineering Design (FEED) studies for an electrolyser plant to produce green hydrogen at RWE’s Didcot site, Oxfordshire.

  The study will be essential to understanding the potential design of plant, any  environmental considerations and the consenting pathway. It is envisaged that if realised the project could produce hydrogen to support the decarbonisation of the region with a mix of viable offtake routes present.

  During the FEED study the exact location, plant layout and potential infrastructure needed will be assessed and determined. Once the key design points and impacts of the project have been established, we will engage fully with the local community and stakeholders, and ensure they are all kept informed.

• RWE and The Solent Cluster

  RWE joined The Solent Cluster to provide support via its expertise and presence as a leading global player in the development of low carbon energy. The development of green hydrogen electrolytic assets is an upcoming field and RWE understands that it is vital to work with local stakeholders to provide the right technical and economic solutions for their specific needs from the start.

  It believes The Solent Cluster will be fundamental in raising the profile of the decarbonisation agenda in the region, which in turn is key to enabling the area to attract skills and investment in a competitive space. RWE sees the development of these decarbonised industrial clusters as a vital part of the development of the hydrogen economy.

  Galvanising the development of a decarbonised economy in the area, The Solent Cluster will represent the regional potential at a governmental level, connecting stakeholders and supporting the connection of the area to national decarbonisation infrastructure.

  The Solent Cluster provides RWE with the opportunity to better understand the barriers and opportunities concerning the development of a decarbonisation cluster in the region. This will enable it to provide bespoke solutions and support to local stakeholders to maximise the value for all parties involved in the development.

• Blue Hydrogen

  In addition, through our UK fleet of gas-fired power stations, in the long-term we are well-positioned to be an off-taker of low carbon hydrogen for firm, flexible power. Our ability to enter into project partnerships to facilitate early use projects, and the conversion of our power plants to run on hydrogen in the future, make us a facilitator of demand as well as supply. 

  Blue hydrogen will have an essential role to play in the development of this emerging technology and in order to develop the infrastructure, pipeline and shipping capacity there needs to be a large quantity. Blue hydrogen plants will be developed on the route to the large scale deployment to Green hydrogen.

  RWE signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Shell in 2021, this far reaching MOU covered production, use and distribution of H₂. The companies are also examining the use of blue hydrogen in RWE's gas-fired power plants in Pembroke (Wales), Emsland (Germany) and Moerdijk (the Netherlands), among others.

  RWE have completed feasibility studies at Pembroke Power Station into the combustion of 40% of the fuel as Hydrogen. Pembroke Power Station could be a key customer of any new blue hydrogen facility in South Wales.

  RWE are looking at CCUS as a viable solution to decarbonise sites that are in the vicinity of proposed CO₂ networks or have access to shipping facilities. RWE are currently undertaking feasibility studies and preparing information that will allow for existing plants at Staythorpe and Pembroke, and a new build CCGT near the Humber to be submitted into the next stage of the cluster sequencing process. In addition the station is looking at carbon capture options.

  The combination of blue hydrogen and carbon capture and shipping could if developed capture almost all of the CO₂ emissions from the station.