Bradford’s future in low-carbon hydrogen
Industry leaders, climate experts, council officials local stakeholders meet to discuss how the city’s landmark new hydrogen project.
With local authorities across the country working towards ambitious targets of net zero carbon emissions, there will be a lot of interest in the Low Carbon Hydrogen project being planned in Bradford. Indeed, more than 100 people came to the summit talks and presentations held in Bradford’s City Hall on September 27.
Ben Madden (Chief Technology Officer at Hycap and Company Director of Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen), Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Leader of Bradford Council), Tracy Brabin (Mayor of West Yorkshire) and Mark Horsley (Chief Executive Officer of N-Gen Energy) at Bradford City Hall; photo courtesy of City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
The plan, to develop a state-of-the-art hydrogen production facility on the site of the old Birkshall gasworks, could generate £120m for the local economy and create up to 125 jobs. What’s more, such a development could product 12.5 tonnes of hydrogen per day, the equivalent of powering 800 buses.
In the proposed development, the new site will boast hydrogen production, storage, dispensing and refuelling facilities. Hydrogen will be produced through electrolysis, using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hope is that redevelopment the site will secure the future of Birkshall, which has an almost century-long history in energy provision, producing and storing natural gas for homes and businesses in the area.
That’s what makes the proposal such a good fit: hydrogen is a multi-purpose fuel that can be used as a more sustainable, greener alternative to natural gas in heating and industrial processes. It can also replace diesel in heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) such as buses, trains and lorries.
Bradford Council supports the proposed project because it would play such a key role in delivering on wider ambitions to tackle climate change.
The development is the only planned hydrogen production plant in West Yorkshire, the proposal developed in partnership between N-Gen Energy and clean energy pioneer Hygen. Site construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with hydrogen production commending the following year.
The project was the largest of those considered in round 1 of the government’s hydrogen allocation round, a scheme to stimulate hydrogen production. The government estimates that such developments in hydrogen have the potential to add some £900m to the UK economy and create more than 9,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030, rising to £13bn and 100,000 jobs by 2050.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, says: ‘Tackling air pollution and addressing climate change is important to Bradford. We’re demonstrating that you can do this at the same time as building a sustainable and prosperous economy that works in the interests of everyone. Seeing leaders from all over the UK come to Bradford to map out not only the project but to define a low-carbon future for the region has been particularly inspiring. This is a significant step forward for Bradford’s economic growth plans and will provide enormous benefits to the people of this city and beyond.’
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, adds: ‘We’ve declared a climate emergency in West Yorkshire, and we’re committed to net zero by 2038, so I’m delighted that one of the UK’s biggest hydrogen production facilities is right here in Bradford. This new investment will play a vital role in helping us achieve our ambitions of a greener, more secure region, with higher paid jobs and lower energy bills for future generations.’
Mark Horsley, Chief Executive Officer of N-Gen Energy, says: ‘We’re delighted to be repurposing an old gas site in Bradford to produce hydrogen, creating a viable route to decarbonisation for many carbon-intensive industries and operators of heavy vehicles. It was great to see the enthusiasm for the job and investment opportunities this generates for Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region at today’s event.’
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