UK hydrogen projects advance energy transition

Hydrogen has long been recognised as critical to the UK’s net zero journey, especially for hard-to-abate sectors like heavy transport, industry, and construction and the Government has made important commitments, backed by significant public funding.

But today industry leaders warned that continued policy clarity and support are essential if the UK is to maintain its competitive edge in the global hydrogen race.

Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association, said: “Hydrogen is no longer a technology of tomorrow - it is being delivered today. Our members are building the projects that will decarbonise transport, industry and construction, while creating jobs and strengthening UK energy security.

“With the Government’s Hydrogen Strategy update imminent, now is the time to double down on support for this sector. Clear, consistent policy will unlock further private investment, accelerate delivery, and ensure the UK remains competitive in the global hydrogen race. The HEA project map shows what is already happening - and with the right backing, there is so much more to come.”

On the ground

Across the country, HEA members are bringing forward projects that prove hydrogen’s potential to decarbonise, create jobs, and strengthen regional economies. Here are some of the flagship schemes now underway:

N-Gen Energy Solutions and Hygen Energy: Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen

N-Gen Energy Solutions and Hygen Energy signed a Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreement with the UK Government in July 2025 for a new hydrogen production and refuelling facility in Bradford, located at the former Birkshall Gas Holder site.

The project will start production towards 12.5 tpd of hydrogen from early 2028, enough to power 800 buses. It is expected to create 125 jobs, bring £120 million of economic value to the local economy, and decarbonise transport and industry across West Yorkshire.

Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen is the largest of 11 schemes in the Government’s first Hydrogen Allocation Round, supported by £2 billion of funding.

Gareth Mills, Managing Director at N-Gen Energy Solutions, said: ‘It is exciting to be making tangible progress towards delivery of a trailblazing facility which will offer the region’s businesses and heavy transport users the opportunity to decarbonise with cleaner, locally produced hydrogen at a competitive price.”

ULEMCo: HyTANKa mobile hydrogen refuelling for construction

ULEMCo has launched HyTANKa, a mobile hydrogen supply and refuelling vehicle designed to support the decarbonisation of construction and other off-grid sectors.

The platform enables flexible, autonomous refuelling of hydrogen equipment, addressing one of the construction sector’s biggest barriers to decarbonisation barriers: having access to onsite refuelling infrastructure. HyTANKa is a fully compliant, road-legal, vehicle and powered by hydrogen itself, that delivers a practical replacement for diesel bowsers.

Successfully demonstrated in live construction environments, HyTANKa has proven capable of meeting the service model of traditional diesel logistics, while slashing emissions.

Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo, commented: "ULEMCo is actively developing globally innovative solutions to address the technical challenges of enabling hydrogen fuel to replace diesel in a number of applications in heavy use transport applications, such as earth moving equipment, specialist road and utility vehicles, which is fundamental to building demand in these very hard to decarbonise sectors.

“It is really important for jobs and growth that the updated UK strategy strengthens support for hydrogen use in these areas, if our customers are to meet their own Net Zero goals, over the next 5 years."

Fuel Cell Systems: powering the UK’s first hydrogen freight corridor

Fuel Cell Systems, based in Hungerford, Berkshire, is at the heart of the UK’s first hydrogen-powered freight corridor. The company is delivering hydrogen refuelling infrastructure along the M4 between London and Bristol, supporting a government-funded project that put 30 hydrogen HGVs on the road by summer 2026.

The project is the UK’s flagship hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicle (HGV) initiative, and it will use HyFleet hydrogen refuelling systems that are designed in West Berkshire and built in the UK. The refuelling systems will provide on-site storage, compression, and dispensing capabilities that help to decarbonise heavy-duty logistics by providing hydrogen fuel as a clean alternative to traditional fossil fuels. It is estimated that the project will save 1900 tonnes of carbon emissions annually when completed.

Dr Lee Juby, CEO of Fuel Cell Systems Ltd, said: “This project is about turning hydrogen freight from theory into practice and showing how local businesses can set a blueprint for national net zero success.

“There is every reason West Berkshire should be seen as a clean tech innovation hub, and as projects like this multiply, we expect them to have a significant economic impact while creating new green jobs.”

GeoPura: clean hydrogen power for events, construction, and industry

GeoPura is demonstrating how hydrogen power delivers clean, reliable energy across multiple sectors. Its Hydrogen Power Units (HPUs) replace diesel generators and supplement the grid, unlocking additional capacity and accelerating the delivery of major projects.

From powering large scale events such as Latitude and the Isle of Wight festivals to film productions including Downton Abbey, GeoPura’s zero-emission technology is reducing carbon and improving air quality wherever dependable off-grid power is required – including powering major construction and long-term infrastructure projects.

At the HyMarnham Power HAR1 project, GeoPura is producing green hydrogen in partnership with JG Pears, supported by the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. The 15 MW facility has repurposed the former High Marnham coal power station into a clean energy hub, providing a long-term hydrogen supply for industrial and commercial use.

Andrew Cunningham, CEO of GeoPura, stated: “Hydrogen is already delivering where traditional energy systems fall short. Our HPUs are replacing diesel and reinforcing the grid, keeping projects moving and helping organisations decarbonise without compromise.

“Whether it is powering a festival, a film set, or a construction site, we are proving that hydrogen is ready to meet the world’s growing demand for clean, safe, and dependable energy.”

HiiROC: plasma technology for low-carbon hydrogen

HiiROC, based in Humberside, has developed a breakthrough process called Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE), producing low-carbon hydrogen and solid carbon without releasing CO₂. This modular, scalable technology is more energy-efficient than conventional electrolysis and can use waste industrial gases as feedstock. The result: clean hydrogen alongside a carbon co-product that can be used in tyres, inks, plastics, asphalt and concrete.

HiiROC has already partnered with Centrica to trial hydrogen in their peaker plant at Brigg Energy Park and demonstrated indirect air capture using biomethane from EPi and is planning its first commercial deployment expected in 2026. The company is targeting millions of tonnes of annual hydrogen production globally, offering a cost-effective route to industrial decarbonisation.

Tim Davies, CEO of HiiROC, commented: “If hydrogen is to reach its potential as a key lever for decarbonising the global energy system, we need new ways of making it. Our Thermal Plasma Electrolysis technology is a game-changer: it produces affordable clean hydrogen and solid carbon, using a fraction of the electricity required by conventional methods and without releasing CO₂.

“The UK has the opportunity to lead the world in clean hydrogen innovation, and with the right support, we can deliver the solutions needed for a sustainable future.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/12112025/uk-hydrogen-projects-advance-energy-transition/