The £300m scheme, first announced in March 2021, is now the UK’s largest consented green hydrogen scheme, according to a statement.

The first phase of the Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme (at 15-20MW) is likely to create around 200 construction jobs over a two-year period and create up to 10 full-time operational jobs with future phases to be constructed in response to demand for hydrogen in the region.

The scheme’s construction and operation is contingent on receiving financial support from the Government’s Hydrogen Investment Package, a multi-million pound programme to encourage the growth of the hydrogen economy across the UK.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said the Trafford Green Hydrogen project, as part of the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, will be a spur for industry and transport operators in the region to accelerate their plans to use green hydrogen and achieve net zero carbon targets.

He said, “It also provides an important stimulus to job creation in Greater Manchester and further investment in renewable energy generation which will, in time, provide greater energy security. I urge the UK Government to support this pioneering scheme.”

Carlton Power is taking forward the project with the support and involvement of a local consortium, comprising Manchester Metropolitan University, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Trafford Council, Cadent Gas and Electricity North West.

It is also examining other types of energy schemes to be situated within the ca. 12 hectare Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.

Eric Adams, Hydrogen Projects Director at Carlton Power, said Trafford Green Hydrogen is ideally situated to provide local industry and transport operators with low-carbon hydrogen fuel.

He said, “It will also stimulate investment in the region’s energy infrastructure and accelerate the region’s energy transition. The economic and environmental benefits are clear.”

Working with our local partners, its focus now turns towards securing the UK Government’s support to this project and proposed green hydrogen schemes at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and Langage in the South West of England.

The proposed hydrogen hub facilities at all three sites will produce and store hydrogen at scale and help integrate renewable energy on a regional scale through the storage of solar and wind energy.

If built, Trafford Green Hydrogen will be located next to one of Europe’s largest energy storage facilities based on liquid air storage: the 250MWh Carlton Highview Power project (announced in June 2020), and potentially other forms of low carbon energy infrastructure.