CARLTON POWER SECURES PLANNING PERMISSION FOR MANCHESTER’S FIRST HYDROGEN FUEL HUB

Low-carbon projects at transport operators and industrial firms will accelerate thanks to a green hydrogen production plant receiving planning permission, according to the mayor of Greater Manchester.

Planning consent for the first phase of the 200MW Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme was granted by Trafford Council, making it the UK’s largest consented green hydrogen scheme according to developer Carlton Power.  

Located within the company’s Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, the 15-20MW first phase could create about 200 construction jobs over a two-year period, and 10 full-time operational jobs. Future phases will be constructed in response to hydrogen demand, Carlton Power said. 

The green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, can be used as an alternative fuel for freight, public transport, and heating networks. 

Trafford Green Hydrogen will be a catalyst for more low-carbon generation and greater energy security in the North West, Carlton Power said, and will boost investment in new energy infrastructure and job creation in the area. 

The scheme’s construction and operation depends on receiving financial support from the government’s Hydrogen Investment Package, a multi-million pound programme to encourage the growth of the hydrogen economy across the UK.  

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “The development of the Trafford Green Hydrogen project, as a part of the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, will be a spur for industry and transport operators in the Greater Manchester region to accelerate their plans to use green hydrogen and achieve their net zero carbon targets.   

“It also provides an important stimulus to job creation in Greater Manchester and further investment in renewable energy generation which will, in time, provide greater energy security. I’m delighted that Greater Manchester is in the vanguard of creating a vibrant hydrogen economy in this country, and I urge the UK government to support this pioneering scheme.” 

A local consortium including Manchester Metropolitan University, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Trafford Council, Cadent Gas and Electricity North West is supporting the project.  

Carlton Power is also examining other types of energy schemes to be situated within the 12-hectare Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.      

“Trafford Green Hydrogen is ideally situated to provide local industry and transport operators with low-carbon hydrogen fuel,” said Eric Adams, hydrogen projects director at Carlton Power. 

“It will also stimulate investment in the region’s energy infrastructure and accelerate the region’s energy transition. The economic and environmental benefits are clear.  

“Working with our local partners, our focus now turns towards securing the UK government’s support to this project and our proposed green hydrogen schemes at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and Langage in the South West of England.” 

The proposed hydrogen hub facilities at Trafford Park, Barrow and Langage will produce and store hydrogen at scale, helping integrate renewable energy on a regional scale through storage of solar and wind energy.  

If built, Trafford Green Hydrogen will be located next to one of Europe’s largest energy storage facilities based on liquid air storage: the 250MWh Carlton Highview Power project, announced in June 2020, and potentially other forms of low-carbon energy infrastructure.