Wales & West Utilities (WWU) has launched its HyLine South West feasibility study to understand how the hydrogen infrastructure could support the region’s renewable energy resources, whilst offering a resilient pathway for decarbonisation.
Following on from the HyLine Cymru and HyLine Gogledd feasibility studies in Wales, HyLine South West strengthens WWU’s overall strategic approach in considering the role hydrogen has across its operating area, in connecting dispersed industrial clusters in the South West of England to future hydrogen supply.
This project will enable hard-to-abate industries, such as minerals and defence, to decarbonise and support the UK’s Net Zero targets, and Wales & West Utilities sustainability ambitions. HyLine South West will assess the design and delivery of the region’s first dedicated hydrogen pipeline, linking production hubs – including those powered by Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) in the Celtic Sea and proposed HAR1 & HAR2 projects – to high-emission industrial users.
The study will also explore integration with WWU’s innovative hydrogen storage solutions, including Lined Rock Caverns, which offer a pathway to year-round, stable energy for homes and businesses in the region.
James Adams, Wales & West Utilities Net Zero Project Manager for the South West, said: “The South West has huge potential to generate clean hydrogen for use in some of the most difficult decarbonisation challenges. Understanding the infrastructure required to move, and store, that hydrogen will be a critical milestone in our journey to a net zero gas network. “HyLine South West not only connects the dots between production and demand, but also ensures that hydrogen can be stored and delivered reliably, even when renewable generation fluctuates.”
David Eccles, Director at Hydrogen South West, added: “Hydrogen South West is committed to turning ambition into action - accelerating clean growth, supporting local industry, and ensuring the region leads the way in delivering a just transition to net zero.
“We see HyLine South West working as another piece in the puzzle, helping us deliver an efficient energy transition whilst maximising the opportunities for economic development in the region.”
The feasibility study will build on WWU’s South West Conceptual Plan and Decentralised Alliance for South West Hydrogen which identified the strategic locations for the dispersed pipeline model. The project also prepares the groundwork for future applications to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Hydrogen Transport and Storage Business Model.
Funded through Ofgem’s Net Zero Allowance mechanism, HyLine South West will deliver detailed technical, environmental, and economic assessments, alongside a public-facing summary report to support stakeholder engagement and regional collaboration. Together, HyLine Cymru, HyLine Gogledd, and HyLine South West lay the strong foundations of a regional vision that can deliver clean energy, industrial resilience, and a greener future for customers.