Plans for a significant new hydrogen production facility in North Lincolnshire have taken a major step forward, marking another boost for the region's burgeoning green energy sector.
Key Details of the Proposed Hydrogen Facility
Centrica Energy Storage has formally submitted an environmental impact screening request to North Lincolnshire Council for a proposed 10MW hydrogen production plant. The intended site is located on land north of the A18, adjacent to the Melton Ross Quarry and situated between the villages of Barnetby-le-Wold and Kirmington.
The facility is designed to serve as the primary fuel source for the kiln at Singleton Birch's nearby quarry, a leading supplier of lime in the UK. Hydrogen will be generated on-site through the process of electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. This method requires specialised infrastructure, all of which is planned for the development.
Construction and Environmental Considerations
Construction of the plant is estimated to take between four to eight months. A key environmental consideration is that the project will not result in the loss of any agricultural land, as it will be built on backfilled quarry land. For access, a new short road off the A18 will need to be constructed to serve both the building phase and the future operational needs of the plant.
The produced hydrogen will be transported via a dedicated pipeline directly to the Singleton Birch kiln, providing significant decarbonisation benefits by replacing traditional, more carbon-intensive fuels.
Funding and the Wider Hydrogen Landscape
In a promising development for the project's viability, the hydrogen production facility has been shortlisted for the Government's Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2) scheme, which could provide crucial funding.
This proposal is part of a larger wave of hydrogen energy developments taking shape in northern Lincolnshire. Other notable projects include:
- The Immingham Green Energy Terminal, which has received government planning consent and will feature a new liquid bulk import terminal and ammonia storage facilities to support a green hydrogen plant operated by Air Products.
- A potential 'world-first' hydrogen power station, the Keadby Next Generation plant, proposed by SSE and Equinor with a massive 900MW capacity.
- The Humber H2ub project by Uniper Hydrogen UK Limited, a low carbon hydrogen production facility proposed for the Killingholme Power Station site, which is also shortlisted for HAR2 funding.
An environmental screening request, as submitted by Centrica, is typically the first formal step in the planning process for energy production facilities, preceding a full planning application.
