Dear Editor,
I was very interested to read your recent article about using depleted oil and gas reservoirs in the North Sea to store hydrogen (“Could old North Sea gas fields hold the key to Britain’s green energy future?”, 26 August). It was encouraging to learn that the geology could permit the storage of sufficiently large quantities of hydrogen to meet anticipated demand for power generation and industrial use.
The article concluded by saying that, if Britain wants secure, affordable clean energy in 2040, planning has to start today.
However, it did not mention the government’s announcement last year that it had earmarked £500m for the development of the first regional hydrogen pipeline and storage network. The aim is to provide strategic infrastructure connecting hydrogen producers, consumers and storage facilities around industrial clusters such as those on the Humber, Mersey and Tees estuaries. Although this funding has not yet been allocated and the first allocation round has been delayed, some preliminary project work is already under way.
Taking the proposed Humber hydrogen network as an example, developers have taken the first steps in the formal planning process. I assume similar progress is being made elsewhere, but as a former employee of a chemical company on the Humber estuary, my main interest is in the projects proposed there.
Building the Humber hydrogen network
In February this year, four major companies – Equinor, Centrica, National Gas and SSE Thermal – formed the Humber Hydrogen consortium and launched a bid to develop hydrogen infrastructure around the Humber estuary. A long and detailed Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report for the necessary pipelines was submitted to the Secretary of State in May, and the Planning Inspectorate responded with its commentary in July.
One of the sites to be included in the proposed network is the petrochemical complex at Saltend, near Hull, which has been a major producer and user of hydrogen for more than 40 years.
If Humber Hydrogen’s bid for funding is successful, it is envisaged that the project would underpin several large-scale hydrogen projects being considered for Saltend and other sites around the Humber estuary.
It is to be hoped that the government will confirm its funding timetable soon, so that the preferred projects can proceed without delay.
Yours sincerely,
Malcolm Lynn
Huntingdonshire
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