BP submits HyGreen proposals
The fuel giant has lodged plans for a hydrogen project on land at Foundry Central within Teesworks.
BP Alternative Energy Investments is the applicant for the project, now validated by Redcar & Cleveland Council.
As set out in the plans, the HyGreen project would involve the development of an electrolytic low carbon hydrogen production facility, hydrogen export pipeline network, electricity and water connections, above-ground installations, construction laydown areas and ancillary development.
This will take place on land at the Foundry, which is part of Teesworks, other land at Teesworks and at Redcar Bulk Terminal, and within the vicinity and at Sembcorp’s Wilton International Site and also at Lackenby.
The main site, sitting within the former Redcar steel works complex, is around 50 acres, and close to 600 acres is included in the wider plans.
The facility would use electrolysis to split water molecules into hydrogen gas and oxygen using electricity produced primarily from renewable sources and will have an installed electrical capacity of up to 105 megawatts.
BP’s intention is that the hydrogen produced will be supplied to a number of industrial offtakers around Teesside via the hydrogen export pipeline network.
Key to the messaging within BP’s communications is the UK government’s pledge to be carbon-zero by 2050, a target that will entail the encouragement of large-scale hydrogen projects such as this.
Certainly, the Teesside plans have been looked on kindly to date, being selected last year by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero to proceed in the Hydrogen Allocation Round One funding round.
DWD is advising BP. As set out in the design & access statement, the main site is owned by South Tees Developments: it is anticipated that ownership of this land will be transferred to Teesworks Ltd at the point of the site lease being drawn down and development activities starting.
South Tees Development Corporation has largely finished demolition works at the main site, with remediation expected to conclude soon. BP could start construction in late 2025 on what is expected to be a three-year build.
Should planning permission be given, the next major milestone is the making of a final investment decision: should BP proceed, an engineering procurement and construction partner will be procured, at which point detailed designs will emerge.
The project can be viewed on the R&C planning portal with the reference R/2024/0271/ESM.
