Plan for green hydrogen facility at Barrow industrial estate

The proposed development, which would be built on around 20,000 sq metres of land at Meeting Industrial Estate in Park Road, would be powered by renewable energy. 

Stuart Klosinski, an economic development consultant based in the Furness area, said: "If the project goes ahead and planning permission is forthcoming, then this will be a tremendous boost for manufacturing in the Furness area – once again putting it in the lead in adopting new forms of energy to help on the path towards net zero."

Stuart Klosinski (Image: Newsquest)

A planning, design and access statement submitted by Barrow Green Hydrogen Ltd in support of the application says: "Green hydrogen is considered one of the key routes to decarbonisation of heavy industrial processes as part of the transition to net zero.

"Hydrogen can be used to replace natural gas in industrial processes and diesel in transportation."

The statement says that, at full output, the 30MW hydrogen electrolyser would be capable of producing 4,680 tonnes of hydrogen per year. 

"However, as the electricity will be supplied by renewable energy only at times of excess generation and low demand, it is estimated the plant will produce approximately 3,000 tonnes per annum," it says.

"Green hydrogen is generated via electrolysis of water using renewable electricity to produce hydrogen and oxygen.

"The electricity for the facility will be sourced from existing and new sources of renewable generation."

The statement discusses how the hydrogen would be used.

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"The hydrogen produced by the scheme will mainly be transported via a dedicated pipeline to a nearby suitable off-taker approximately 500m north of the site (Kimberly Clark). This will help to significantly decarbonise their operations moving forward and help to secure the future of this key employment site in Cumbria," it says.

"There is also the opportunity (within the design) to use some of the hydrogen to be transported by road tanker to key locations in the region for use in district heating, industrial facilities, construction and road transportation. 

"The use of low carbon hydrogen will displace fossil fuels, resulting in a reduction in carbon emissions from those sectors."

The statement says it is expected that the construction period would last around 18 months.

"At a local level, the proposed development provides an opportunity for reinstating productive economic use to part of the Meeting Industrial Estate and helping to deliver the borough's aim of green energy development and net zero ambitions," it says.

The application has been submitted by Dr Chris Leach, of Carlton Power Ltd.