ERM, the world’s largest specialist sustainability consultancy, has played a pivotal role in supporting SSE and Equinor’s Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder project, which has become the first hydrogen-to-power initiative to secure planning consent in the UK. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the UK’s hydrogen economy, particularly within the Humber region, a key area targeted for decarbonisation.
The Aldbrough project is situated within the existing gas storage site operated by SSE Thermal and Equinor on the East Yorkshire coast. It is designed to harness green power sourced from the grid through a renewable Power Purchase Agreement. This electricity will power a 35MW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser to produce hydrogen, which will then be stored in converted salt caverns. The stored hydrogen will fuel a 100% hydrogen-fired open-cycle gas turbine with a capacity of 50MW, providing flexible green power back to the grid when system demand peaks. Beyond immediate power generation, the project anticipates that hydrogen storage will serve wider sectors including industry, heating, and transport, facilitating a broader low-carbon transition.
ERM’s involvement extended beyond purely technical advisory roles. The consultancy provided crucial support in the complex planning application process, environmental permitting, safety assessments, and marine licensing. Russell Cullen, Partner at ERM, highlighted the consultancy’s commitment: “We welcomed the opportunity to support this pioneering project that will pave the way for wider deployment of hydrogen power. We look forward to working further with SSE and Equinor to navigate the energy transition and help the UK deliver on its low-carbon economy ambitions.” Sally O’Brien, Senior Project Manager for the Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder, credited ERM’s technical expertise in successfully delivering the intricate planning application, which was critical to obtaining consent.
This project has attracted government attention and support, having been shortlisted in the UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round Two, which offers revenue support through the Hydrogen Production Business Model. SSE and Equinor are currently progressing through due diligence stages with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, underscoring the project’s strategic importance.
In parallel with the Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder, ERM is also involved in other related projects in the region, including the Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage initiative and the Humber Hydrogen Pipeline project. These aim to develop a comprehensive low-carbon hydrogen network, connecting regional producers and users, thereby reinforcing the infrastructure necessary for a scalable hydrogen economy.
Further signalling the region’s ambitions, the Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage project is targeting operational status by early 2028, with plans to have an initial storage capacity of at least 320 gigawatt hours. This capacity could power over 860 hydrogen buses annually, demonstrating the potential scale of hydrogen utilisation. Contracts for this storage facility have been awarded to prominent engineering and sustainability firms, including Atkins and ERM, reflecting confidence in this infrastructure development.
Complementing these efforts is Equinor’s H2H Saltend project, a landmark 600-megawatt low-carbon hydrogen production plant equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) capabilities. Located at the Saltend Chemicals Park near Hull, this project has also recently secured planning permission, marking it one of the first of its scale in the UK. H2H Saltend aims to reduce emissions at the industrial park by up to one-third and contributes to the broader goal of making the Humber region net-zero by 2040. ERM led extensive public consultations and technical environmental assessments for H2H Saltend, ensuring regulatory compliance and community engagement. The project is expected to be operational by the end of the decade and will capture approximately 900,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, equivalent to taking about half a million cars off the road.
Together, these projects reflect a coordinated regional strategy to build a robust hydrogen economy in the Humber area. With the combined production, storage, and pipeline infrastructure, the Humber is poised to become a centrepiece of the UK’s clean energy transition. The integration of pioneering hydrogen technologies, alongside CCS efforts and local economic development, presents a powerful model for national decarbonisation pathways.
In summary, while the Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder project is a first-of-its-kind hydrogen-to-power facility, its success is part of a broader, ambitious vision supported by SSE, Equinor, and ERM, amongst others, to establish the Humber as a hydrogen hub, cutting emissions and delivering economic benefits at scale. These developments underscore not only technological innovation but also the importance of strategic planning, regulatory navigation, and community engagement in advancing the UK’s low-carbon future.
Source: Noah Wire Services
