National Gas and Cadent published a Feasibility Study in March 2023, unveiling its vision for safeguarding and creating jobs, reducing carbon emissions, attracting private capital investment, enhancing energy resilient and shielding customers from fluctuating prices.
Read the executive summary for an overview of the feasibility study.
The Hydrogen Valley, positioned in the heart of England, will help to kickstart the hydrogen economy, driving job creation, CO2 reductions and attracting substantial investment in the West Midlands and East of England.
The economic impact and job creation potential of Hydrogen Valley are outlined in the feasibility study by National Gas and Cadent.
Hydrogen Valley, a transformative regional initiative positioned in the heart of England, aims to drive job creation, CO2 reductions and attract substantial investment in West Midlands and the East of England. In a testament to the impact that the programme could have on a regional level, we are delighted to welcome five new members to the consortium.
As the world moves towards a sustainable future, hydrogen is set to play a key role in the energy transition.
Hydrogen Valley, a transformative regional initiative positioned in the heart of England, aims to drive job creation, CO2 reductions and attract substantial investment in West Midlands and the East of England. In a testament to the impact that the programme could have on a regional level, we are delighted to welcome five new members to the consortium.
Recent organisations joining the Hydrogen Valley consortium include:
The latest organisations supporting the programme signify a strong commitment across the Midlands region from the private, public and third sectors. Together, they are dedicated to exploring the benefits of hydrogen within a net zero economy across all sectors and industries.
Staffordshire County Council covers the areas of East Staffordshire, South Staffordshire, Tamworth, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Stafford, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands, with a population of almost 900,000. The county council aims to support its residents to have access to better paid, better skilled jobs, live in thriving and sustainable communities and be healthier and independent for longer. It is committed to tackling climate change, offer every Staffordshire child and young person the best start in life, fix more roads and improve transport and digital connections.
Philip White, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:
“As a key partner in the development of the Hydrogen Valley we will do all we can as a local authority to ensure this vital part of the energy sector continues to grow and flourish.
“Staffordshire and its neighbours already have the foundations in place to make us a region that is set become an international hub for the manufacture of hydrogen engines. Major businesses and smaller supply chain companies will all play their part, linking with the expert knowledge bases at our universities and research centres.
“We also lead a strategic alliance of local authorities and manufacturers to lobby central government for support to realise sustainable economic growth opportunities along the A50/A500 east-west corridor, through our Fifty500 initiative.”
Wienerberger, operating across the Midlands, is the UK’s leading provider of building solutions, providing wall, roof and landscaping innovations for new build and renovation projects. The company is committed to becoming a more sustainable business, continually innovating with products and services that respond to the global challenges of climate change. Having dedicated themselves to reaching net zero emissions before 2050, hydrogen will play a key role in reducing emissions from their manufacturing, transport, and corporate processes.
Keith Jackson, Head of Thermal Process and Projects at Wienerberger, added:
“As a responsible producer of building solutions Wienerberger Ltd is actively looking for tools to support its ambitious decarbonisation programme.
“Hydrogen is becoming increasingly recognised as a viable option for meeting the 2050 Climate Change Act targets, both by industry and the UK government. As a result of this we understand the need to develop and build a hydrogen network through the repurposing of existing infrastructures as well as creating new pipelines and production facilities.”
Founded over 225 years ago, the Churchill brand has achieved global recognition and is a reputable supplier of the highest quality ceramics, servicing 80+ countries with a network of 800 distributor partners. Respected for service excellence, product quality, environmental responsibilities and product innovation.
David Plant, Production Director at Churchill, said:
"The Hydrogen Valley project gives us confidence to continue our research into the use of hydrogen as a potential replacement for natural gas. Hopefully by collaborating with other high energy manufacturers this will enable a readily available supply of clean hydrogen to become a reality in the future."
Similarly, the Midlands Net Zero Hub, working directly with Nottingham City Council and across the Midlands, works with local authorities to support organisations across the region to reach net zero. They’ve recently joined the consortium to help public sector organisations consider hydrogen in their decarbonisation plans and projects, accelerating decarbonisation across the midlands economy.
Alex Pearson, Net Zero Project Manager at Midlands Net Zero Hub, added:
"The Midlands Net Zero Hub is supportive of the development of hydrogen projects across the region. Much of the work we do is with the public sector to assist them to evaluate the various routes to decarbonisation through energy projects. These projects range from hydrogen for transport to the decarbonisation of heavy industry.
“We are looking forward to joining the Hydrogen Valley consortium to further progress hydrogen investment and infrastructure opportunities as we work towards net zero in the midlands."
In the manufacturing sector, Keeling & Walker join as leaders and pioneers in tin oxide solutions for over 100 years. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, the company manufactures a range of products for use in both manufacturing and for research and development in the region and across the country.
Tim Whitehead, EHSQ Manager at Keeling & Walker, added:
“Keeling & Walker have an active interest in the Hydrogen Valley project as they seek sustainable alternatives to carbon-intensive energy sources to ensure the company can continue to grow and expand its range of products in an increasing range of markets and applications.”
Lastly, CR Plus, a consultancy delivering cost reduction, energy efficiency and decarbonisation support to industrial businesses, are based in Port Talbot in Wales. Their focus is on working with clients to improve their operations by delivering cost reduction, energy efficiency measures, decarbonisation, and engineering services. They have years of experience helping business strategies align with net zero targets and with delivering largescale energy and carbon reduction projects. Their interest in Hydrogen Valley highlights their commitment to exploring a diverse range of decarbonisation technologies for their clients.
Tony Parton, Director of CR Plus, added:
“Having put together a specification for a large new Hydrogen Furnace to be ready in 2027, we know how important it is to have local collaborations to get a project over the line. Hydrogen Valley provides the opportunity to collaborate with the right stakeholders.”
The recent supporters represent just a fraction of the diverse private and public sector industries set to benefit from the use of hydrogen, accelerating the energy transition across the midlands corridor, spanning from Norfolk to Shropshire.
The Hydrogen Valley consortium, launched in the House of Commons in March 2023, now comprises of more than 50 members.
If you are interested in being at the forefront of the energy transition and located in the West Midland and East of England, please get in touch with us today by emailing [email protected]
In the meantime, you can find out more about our plans here.
The Hydrogen Valley, positioned in the heart of England, is a transformative regional hydrogen initiative driving job creation, CO2 reductions and attracting substantial investment in the West Midlands and East of England.
The Hydrogen Valley, positioned in the heart of England, is a transformative regional hydrogen initiative driving job creation, CO2 reductions and attracting substantial investment in the West Midlands and East of England.
Stretching across an East-West corridor from Norfolk to Shropshire, this region plays a key role in power generation, automotive manufacturing, metal processing and building materials.
Despite being predominantly landlocked with limited access to renewable energy for green hydrogen production, various regional initiatives are underway to facilitate the transition to hydrogen. As the UK advances towards a mature hydrogen economy, the Hydrogen Valley becomes a crucial piece of the puzzle.
The region also sits at a strategic intersection of major road networks including the M6, M1 and M40, meaning there is potential for major Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) refuelling hubs to be situated in the region.
With a vision to address challenges faced by industries in planning decarbonisation strategies, Hydrogen Valley aims to establish the hydrogen economy in the region and explore infrastructure opportunities to secure long-term, low-cost hydrogen. This will not only accelerate industrial decarbonisation but also attract investment, fostering socio-economic benefits in tandem with the energy transition.
The economic impact and job creation potential of Hydrogen Valley are outlined in a feasibility study by National Gas and Cadent.
The feasibility study envisions:
Read the full feasibility study report and executive summary here.
The Hydrogen Valley vision was unveiled at the House of Commons in March 2023 at an event hosted by MP Bim Afolami, garnering support from a diverse set of stakeholders, including public and private sectors. Advocates of the Hydrogen Valley include PEPSICO, CEMEX, British Sugar, RWE, and Warwick District Council amongst others.
To see the full list of supporters, click here.
If you would like to become an advocate of Hydrogen Valley, or if you’re located in the region and want to find out more or have insights to share, then please get in touch.
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