Bradford City Hall hosted a gathering of industry representatives, local government officials, stakeholders, and climate experts to discuss the city’s hydrogen production project and its potential role in the region’s low-carbon initiatives.
The Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen project, a collaboration between N-Gen Energy and Hygen, was selected as the largest project in the government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 1. According to presented figures, the facility, planned for the former Birkshall Gas works site, is projected to contribute £120m to the Bradford economy and create 125 jobs. The facility is designed to produce 12.5 tonnes of hydrogen daily, sufficient to power 800 buses.
As West Yorkshire’s only planned hydrogen production facility, the project has received support from Bradford Council.
Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “Tackling air pollution and addressing climate change is important to Bradford. We’re demonstrating that you can do this at the same time as building a sustainable and prosperous economy that works in the interests of everyone.”
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin commented on the project: “We’ve declared a climate emergency in West Yorkshire, and we’re committed to Net Zero by 2038, so I’m delighted that one of the UK’s biggest hydrogen production facilities is right here in Bradford. This new investment will play a vital role in helping us achieve our ambitions of a greener, more secure region, with higher paid jobs and lower energy bills for future generations.”
The Birkshall site, which has historically been significant in Bradford’s energy infrastructure for nearly a century, will be repurposed for hydrogen production. The facility will use electrolysis, employing renewable electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen, and will include production, storage, dispensing, and refueling capabilities.
N-Gen Energy CEO Mark Horsley said: “We’re delighted to be repurposing an old gas site in Bradford to produce hydrogen, creating a viable route to decarbonisation for many carbon intensive industries and operators of heavy vehicles. It was great to see the enthusiasm for the job and investment opportunities this generates for Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region at today’s event.”
The government has identified hydrogen as a significant economic opportunity, estimating its potential value at £900 million and the creation of over 9,000 jobs by 2030, with possibilities of expansion to 100,000 jobs and £13 billion by 2050.
As well as being a replacement for diesel in heavy vehicles, hydrogen can be utilised as an alternative to natural gas for heating and industrial processes.
The project’s construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, with hydrogen production commencing in 2027.
