Hygen acquires Hybont as delayed HAR1 hydrogen project finally signs

Hybont plans to establish green hydrogen production and refuelling in Bridgend. In its current iteration, the project will produce over two tonnes of hydrogen per day, with plans to refuel vehicles and supply local industry via tube trailers.

However, the development faced major backlash, with local residents and campaigners raising concerns over hydrogen safety and questioning Marubeni’s ability to deliver the scheme after repeated delays.

Jo Bamford-owned Hygen, which is already developing a HAR1-supported project in Bradford, said the acquisition was an “important next step” for the business.

“Hybont has the potential to be a high-quality project that aligns strongly with our strategy of targeting the development of hydrogen infrastructure in areas of real demand,” said Hygen CEO Kevin Selleslags.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks confirmed the acquisition also marked the “conclusion” of the HAR1 contract signing process, which faced major delays.

Hybont had been the last HAR1 project yet to sign.

HAR1 will provide a combined £2bn in operational cost subsidies to 11 supported projects with a combined capacity of around 125MW.

The scheme offers a strike price of £241/MWh – around £9/kg of hydrogen. Like power contracts for difference, the strike price covers production costs plus an allowed return, topping up revenues when market prices are low and clawing back funds when they rise.

Hygen CFO Charles Portwain said the HAR scheme had been “instrumental” in unlocking early hydrogen investment.

The company is also involved in developing the Bamford-led Project Hyspeed proposal, which aims to build a cumulative 1GW of green hydrogen production capacity across the UK.

Could Hyspeed shape HAR3? HydraB’s 1GW UK hydrogen plan demands new rules

The team behind the UK’s ambitious 1GW Project Hyspeed have two big asks of the government: treat multiple sites as one project and allow the mass-balanced treatment of hydrogen in the gas network.

Without both, the project could be scrapped entirely, HydraB’s Harry Bowcott told H2 View.

Hyspeed, unveiled in April, was born from what Bowcott described as a challenge from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). After HydraB’s Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen project won funding through the UK’s first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), DESNZ’s selection letter ended with a provocative prompt: asking for ideas on how the subsidy scheme could be improved for giga-scale developments.

“We thought that was a challenge,” he told H2 View. “And Hyspeed was our answer…

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