- Feasibility agreement will explore utilising green hydrogen for industrial fuel switching
- Project is the largest of its kind within the UK, with an initial estimated capex value of more than £40 million, and will entail analysing other on-site energy efficiency options to drastically reduce C02 emissions
- Agreement represents yet another remarkable milestone for Protium, enabling businesses across a broad range of sectors to forge their sustainable future
Protium, the UK-based green hydrogen project developer, has signed a green hydrogen feasibility agreement with a global market-leading manufacturer based North West England. This forms part of a series of fuel-switching projects which Protium is leading on across the UK.
Protium will work with the manufacturer to explore utilising green hydrogen for industrial fuel switching, as well as analysing other energy efficiency savings that can be achieved on-site so as to drastically reduce their C02 emissions. This will be the largest currently announced green hydrogen for industrial fuel switching project of its kind within the UK, with a capex value of more than £40 million. Details of the manufacturer cannot be disclosed at this stage of the agreement.
The study will examine the technical and economic benefits of a Hydrogen as an Energy Service (HESCO) contract, with renewable power provided alongside green hydrogen for blending with natural gas. The project will be crucial to demonstrating the benefits of a decentralised green fuel project development model and will allow both Protium and its client to develop a robust pathway to delivering a zero-emissions factory using green hydrogen. Protium will conduct the feasibility study in tandem with its strategic partners, including its equipment suppliers. It is expected that the initial results will be due Q2 2021.
Protium’s feasibility announcement comes at an interesting time both economically and politically, with hydrogen sitting centre stage in many industrial fuel switching and net zero discussions. In its flagship 2018 report on Industrial Fuel Switching, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy noted that hydrogen has 2x the decarbonisation potential than pure electrification in the race to get UK industrial emissions to net zero.
The government and the Committee on Climate Change have repeatedly emphasised that the UK must complete multiple hydrogen fuel switching sites by 2025 to ensure there is sufficient evidence available to inform policy, with earlier reports suggesting at least 20 sites would be required.
The agreement represents a significant step forward for the manufacturing industry, with operators often relying on energy supplied solely from the grid – green hydrogen is a unique energy offering as it allows manufacturers to consume green fuels that can be produced in a decentralised manner, without waiting for a wider transformation of the UK gas grid. The structure also provides companies with a mechanism to mitigate against the rising climate costs imposed on consumers of fossil fuels, by providing a fixed price offering over a multi-year period, that is not affected by climate taxes.
The agreement comes closely after Protium last week announced signing a Heads of Terms with ZeroAvia, the US-based innovator and leader of decarbonising commercial aviation – the Heads of Terms allows Protium to work closely with ZeroAvia to develop and expand green hydrogen infrastructure across the UK and for the aviation market more broadly.
Through Protium’s green hydrogen expertise and project capabilities, businesses across a variety of sectors are able to forge their sustainable future.
Commenting on the announcement, Chris Jackson, CEO of Protium, said: “Protium is delighted to be working with the market-leading manufacturer to explore the possibility of incorporating green hydrogen into their UK operations. We look forward to working with them and hope to revitalise their operational offering in an innovative and sustainable way.”
About Protium
Protium is a UK-based hydrogen solutions provider for project operators, developers and investors. Founded in 2019, the company provides services including project origination, design and funding to support the deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
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