The Next Phase of UK’s National Hydrogen Network to Connect Scottish Industrial Clusters to Teesside
National Gas has today commenced the design of Project Union: St Fergus to Teesside – the second phase of a national hydrogen network across Great Britain.
The proposed 350-mile hydrogen network will connect Teesside, on the East Coast of England, to St Fergus in the North East of Scotland, as part of a 1,500-mile underground national hydrogen network to connect some of Britain’s most important industrial regions and anchor the country’s emerging hydrogen economy.
Once operational, it will provide low-carbon hydrogen to power stations, industry and storage sites – unlocking Britain's hydrogen economy at scale, enhancing energy security and protecting jobs.
Speaking about this milestone, Ian Radley, Chief Commercial Officer at National Gas, said: "Reaching the advanced engineering design phase for the St Fergus to Teesside section of Project Union is a significant milestone in the development of Britain’s hydrogen transport infrastructure."
He added: "By progressing this next phase of the national hydrogen network, we are supporting Britain’s ambitions to decarbonise industry and unlock future low-carbon growth opportunities, while helping to deliver long-term economic benefits for communities and businesses along the route."
Hydrogen can enhance Britain’s energy security by providing flexible, cleaner energy power generation and industries. As an alternative fuel to natural gas, it can be used to decarbonise power generation and hard-to-electrify industries such as heavy manufacturing, chemicals and steel production. It can also be used as a feedstock for high-value products such as ammonia and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Nigel Holmes, CEO of Hydrogen Scotland, added: “Project Union’s hydrogen pipeline from St Fergus in Scotland to Teesside in England will unlock hydrogen’s potential to decarbonise UK industry with production of clean fuels, ammonia and SAF at Grangemouth from low carbon hydrogen. This UK hydrogen backbone will also reduce renewables curtailment and enable access to large scale underground hydrogen storage sites for the long duration responsive power generation which is essential for UK energy security.”
The project is funded as part of a £164 million package for three National Gas projects to deliver more than 50% of the proposed national hydrogen network and will help to meet the UK Government targets of net zero emissions by 2050