Tilbury hydrogen project moves forward

Energy company GeoPura and Forth Ports have signed a 10-year agreement to develop a 1MW hydrogen production facility at the Essex port. The plant will use electrolysis powered by on-site solar energy to generate zero-emission fuel for port operations and the wider Thames Estuary.

Backed by £2 million in seed funding from Thames Freeport, the project aims to accelerate decarbonisation across heavy industry while demonstrating how hydrogen can be deployed in live operational environments.

READ MORE: Green hydrogen drives Tilbury expansion

The Port of Tilbury, one of the UK’s busiest logistics hubs, handles millions of tonnes of cargo annually and relies on energy-intensive equipment such as heavy goods vehicles, forklifts and reach stackers. The introduction of locally produced hydrogen is expected to reduce emissions, improve air quality and support worker health.

Andrew Cunningham, chief executive of GeoPura, said the initiative builds on the company’s experience in repurposing industrial infrastructure for clean energy production.

“Tilbury is another powerful example of how the UK can use its existing industrial infrastructure to produce renewable fuels for the future,” he said. “It’s a perfect location to support hydrogen adoption across the Thames Estuary, improving air quality and creating new high-quality clean energy jobs.”

The project also aligns with wider national targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and develop up to 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen capacity by 2030.

David Webster, regional director at Tilbury, said the agreement represents another step toward the port’s own sustainability ambitions.

“We are excited to be working with GeoPura to deliver green hydrogen generation, which represents another significant step on our journey to becoming a net zero operation by 2042,” he said.

As hydrogen production scales, the Tilbury facility is expected to serve as a model for decarbonising ports and industrial clusters across the UK.