Uniper, Siemens Energy, Toyota Tsusho and Associated British Ports (ABP) have submitted a joint bid to the Clean Maritime Fund for matched funding to develop their vision for a low carbon hydrogen supply to ABP’s Port of Immingham.
Henrik Pedersen, chief executive officer at ABP, said: “ABP is proud that the Humber ports are already playing a significant role in the decarbonisation of industry, within and beyond the Humber region. This exciting project offers the Port of Immingham the opportunity to create a model for ports across the UK- and the world – to replicate, making the most of the decarbonisation potential of hydrogen.”
The project aims to develop a scalable decarbonisation solution within the Port of Immingham, which, if successful, would be replicable in other ports. The project could lead to an initial c.20MW supply of green hydrogen to the Port of Immingham by 2025.
Green hydrogen could be produced at the port by electrolysis, using a renewable energy supply such as offshore wind. The hydrogen could then be used as a direct replacement to diesel and heavy fuel oil, or for producing clean shipping fuels.
Feasibility study
The funding bid has been submitted so that a full feasibility study can be carried out. A successful funding bid could allow this work to begin as early as September 2021.
Uniper intends to lead the feasibility study. Uniper owns the nearby Killingholme power station, which if the bid is successful, could be one of the locations for an electrolyser, powered by renewable energy, to produce hydrogen for the port.
Siemens Energy currently produces some of the worlds most advanced PEM electrolysis units. It has identified the Humber as a key area to decarbonise in the UK.
Toyota Tsusho UK will carry out an assessment of the conversion, replacement or retrofitting of port equipment, as well as hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and potential achievable GHG reductions.