Newcastle-Made Hydrogen Generators to Fuel UK's Largest Green Construction Project
Hydrogen generators manufactured in Newcastle are set to play a pivotal role in the largest ever deployment of green hydrogen on a British construction project. The groundbreaking initiative involves the Lower Thames Crossing, a £10 billion infrastructure endeavor that will create a tunnel beneath the Thames connecting Thurrock and Gravesham.
Historic Partnership for Sustainable Infrastructure
GeoPura, a leading hydrogen firm, has secured a significant contract to provide hydrogen as a primary power source for this monumental project. This collaboration marks a major step toward making the Lower Thames Crossing the first major UK infrastructure project to operate on a carbon neutral basis. The scheme will utilize hydrogen, electric power, and other low-carbon fuels to completely replace diesel generators, dramatically reducing harmful emissions.
GeoPura produces green Hydrogen Power Units (HPUs) across multiple UK locations and partners with Siemens Energy in Newcastle to manufacture these innovative generators. Already, six hydrogen-powered generators from GeoPura are operational on the project site in Essex, where they charge batteries for electric machinery.
Massive Environmental Impact and Supply Commitment
The company has committed to supplying an impressive 2,500 tonnes of hydrogen for the Lower Thames Crossing project. This substantial volume is enough to replace over 12 million litres of diesel fuel, resulting in an estimated reduction of 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This represents the largest volume of green hydrogen ever contracted for a British construction project.
GeoPura CEO Andrew Cunningham expressed pride in this achievement, stating: "We're extremely proud to be supplying the largest volume of green hydrogen ever contracted for a British construction project. I congratulate the Lower Thames Crossing for setting a powerful example of how major infrastructure can be delivered sustainably. This contract award further strengthens the British hydrogen supply chain, driving both price efficiency and British jobs across this new, exciting industry with tangible deployments."
Government Support and Industry Transformation
Minister for Industry Chris McDonald emphasized the national significance of this collaboration: "GeoPura and the Lower Thames Crossing collaboration is proof that clean energy goes hand-in-hand with major British infrastructure projects. Hydrogen has a key role to play in our industrial strategy, and from Nottinghamshire to Kent, our first flagship hydrogen projects will sustainably power projects up and down the country."
Matt Palmer, executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing, highlighted the broader implications: "Today we've given the green light to green hydrogen. By replacing diesel with home grown hydrogen, we're not only reducing our own carbon footprint but also helping clean up the construction sector. National Highways is supporting new jobs and skills that will put British businesses and people at the forefront of the growing clean energy sector."
Company Background and Growth Trajectory
Founded in 2019, GeoPura has grown to employ more than 170 people across the UK and Europe. The company began its partnership with Siemens Energy in Newcastle in 2022, focusing on producing green hydrogen at an industrial scale. This collaboration has positioned Newcastle as a crucial hub for green hydrogen technology manufacturing, contributing to regional economic development while advancing national clean energy goals.
The Lower Thames Crossing project represents a transformative moment for sustainable construction practices in the United Kingdom, demonstrating how innovative green technologies can be integrated into large-scale infrastructure development while creating employment opportunities and strengthening domestic supply chains.
