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industry & government news

POTENTIAL FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION OFF

THE COAST OF EAST ANGLIA BEING EXPLORED

THE BACTON GAS TERMINAL IS LOCATED
OFF THE COAST OF NORTH NORFOLK

RESEARCH IS UNDERWAY to UK Hydrogen Strategy later this year, which the options for a potential Bacton
investigate the potential for hydrogen this regional study will help to inform. Energy Hub will help to facilitate and
production off the coast of East Anglia Recent regional announcements are accelerate the transition towards net
in the UK, reports H2 View. also highlighting a significant role for zero emissions.”
The Bacton Energy Hub study, led by hydrogen such as plans for a hydrogen “It is a key regional project, which
Hydrogen East, will research options and hub as part of the Freeports East bid could realise extensive potential
scenarios to bring together the region’s led by the ports of Felixstowe and benefits both in terms of supporting
offshore gas and offshore wind sectors Harwich, supported by EDF Energy, delivery of the local industrial strategy
to produce clean hydrogen at scale for Sizewell C, Ryse Hydrogen, JCB, New and the stated aim of enabling Norfolk
cleaner power, heat and transport fuels Anglia and South East Local Enterprise and Suffolk to become the UK’s clean
supplying the region and beyond. Partnerships, and many other partners growth region.”
It aims to provide a detailed map of including Hydrogen East. “It will contribute to Hydrogen
existing offshore and onshore energy- There is a growing level of research East’s driving objective of Norfolk and
related infrastructure and develop on how different technologies to Suffolk becoming a significant regional
options and scenarios for where wind produce hydrogen could be developed hydrogen economy.”
farms, gas platforms, subsea pipelines and scaled-up, such as electrolysers Martyn Tulloch, Head of Energy
and cables could be integrated or powered by offshore wind, nuclear, System Integration at OGTC, said, “This
repurposed over time to support or solar; or reforming natural gas study will help to identify a pathway for
hydrogen production, with the Bacton to hydrogen while capturing and enabling the transition from natural gas
terminal on North Norfolk’s coast being storing carbon dioxide in depleted gas to clean hydrogen production across the
used for injection into the grid. reservoirs under the North Sea. southern North Sea, with potential for
The project is well timed following The study is being co-funded by carbon capture and storage.”
recent announcements such as the OGTC, the Offshore Renewable Energy “As the UK’s principal gas basin, and
Prime Minister’s ten-point plan, together Catapult, New Anglia Local Enterprise with a significant portfolio of offshore
with a wide range of independent Partnership, and North Norfolk District wind projects, the region offers a
research reports across the world, Council, with support from New Anglia real opportunity to explore a more
identifying a clear role for hydrogen to Energy, Opergy, and Xodus Group. integrated approach, with prospects to
support the decarbonisation of heat and Nigel Cornwall, co-founder of consider repurposing offshore pipeline
transport systems. Hydrogen East and a Director at New infrastructure and the role of the Bacton
The UK government is due to publish a Anglia Energy, said, “Developing terminal as an energy hub.”

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11/03/2021 08:39
News.indd 2
News.indd 2 11/03/2021 08:39