Coming as a first for the two counties, the planned hub at Langage Solar Farm, eight miles east of Plymouth, Devon, is hoped to provide local companies, including industry and transport with easy access to hydrogen fuel.
It is hoped the hydrogen hub will support further growth of renewable generation in the region by utilising it to produce and store hydrogen at times when renewable output is high and electricity demand is low.
Under the first phase of the project, Carlton Power has secured planning consent from the South Hams District Council, and has received support from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, and South West low-carbon energy Organisation, Regen.
The Devon and Cornwall hub plans come as Carlton Powers third green hydrogen hub in the UK, having announced plans to establish hubs in Cumbria and Greater Manchester in the North.
Read more: 35MW hydrogen hub plans for Cumbria, UK
Read more: Plans for Greater Manchester’s first hydrogen hub unveiled today
H2 View understands the Langage hub plans are subject to receiving support from the UK Government’s Hydrogen Investment Package, which hopes to encourage the growth of the UK’s hydrogen economy, to meet its target of establishing 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030.
Eric Adams, Hydrogen Projects Director at Carlton Power, said, “Langage is ideally located for the West Country’s first low-carbon hydrogen hub. With the need, especially among industrial companies, to move away from fossil fuels and reach Net Zero, Langage Green Hydrogen and our other projects can make an important contribution to the transition to the hydrogen economy.
“A number of key industrial sectors in the south-west have limited options to decarbonise so a local source of hydrogen will accelerate their Net Zero plans and the region’s wider low-carbon ambitions.”
Merlin Hyman, Chief Executive of Regen, commented, “Green hydrogen has an important role to play by using renewable electricity to manufacture a low carbon fuel that will reduce emissions from industry and heavy transport. To have one of the first green hydrogen production plants in the South West is great news for the decarbonisation of the region.”
Claire Gibson, Head of Delivery at the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, added, “It is fantastic to see Carlton Power choose Devon as its location for its next hydrogen hub. We are pleased to have supported the project, in line with our aims to drive the region’s clean growth agenda. Hydrogen is an important part of our ambition to become the country’s green energy powerhouse, and projects like the Langage hydrogen hub are crucial to our journey to Net Zero.”
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