Statkraft, Foresight, and Progressive Energy have joined forces to establish Grenian Hydrogen, a groundbreaking joint venture aimed at advancing green hydrogen projects in the United Kingdom. Leveraging the distinctive expertise and experience of each organization, this partnership offers a reliable solution for major manufacturers seeking to transition from natural gas to hydrogen in order to decarbonize their operations. Grenian Hydrogen will facilitate a seamless transition for customers by taking charge of the design, construction, ownership, and operation of hydrogen production facilities. Furthermore, the venture will draw upon Progressive Energy's proficiency in running commercial-scale hydrogen demonstration projects, such as the successful initiative at Unilever's Port Sunlight manufacturing plant, to assist in converting sites to become “hydrogen ready.”
As a leading investor in green hydrogen within the UK, Foresight will continue to contribute its extensive sector knowledge in alignment with its broader sustainable infrastructure strategies. Notably, the flagship 30MW Cheshire Green Hydrogen (CGH) project at Peel's Protos site near Ince has been shortlisted by the government for a 15-year Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreement (LCHA). Front End Engineering Design (FEED) studies and consenting processes are already underway for CGH and four other projects located in St Helens, Liverpool, Winnington and Middlewich in Cheshire, and Stretford in Manchester. Three of these projects are also backed by the government's Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, specifically Strand 1 (Round 1).
Grenian Hydrogen has also submitted bids under Strand 1 to secure funding for engineering work related to two larger “mini-cluster” projects in Wrexham and Speke (Liverpool). Both sites will supply multiple users through local pipeline networks originating from “central” electrolytic hydrogen production plants. Ultimately, these networks may connect to the larger hydrogen distribution hub being developed by Cadent as part of the HyNet project.
To generate electrolytic hydrogen, Grenian Hydrogen will contract power from renewable sources within Statkraft's extensive portfolio. In some cases, local behind-the-meter power will also be sourced through private wire arrangements, utilizing both new and existing wind, solar, and biomass generation. To meet the requirements of the LCHA, all power consumed by Grenian's electrolysers will be matched with specific renewable generators based on their temporal availability.
In a significant development, Grenian has signed an initial commercial agreement with Accelera by Cummins, the zero-emissions brand of Cummins Inc, to supply the core electrolyser equipment for the forthcoming production plants. Accelera specializes in manufacturing a patented Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology, known for its successful commercial operation and improved performance when directly coupled with renewables compared to traditional alkaline technology.
The establishment of this joint venture follows the signing of an initial collaboration agreement by the three partners in October 2022. Adam Baddeley, Chief Executive of Grenian Hydrogen and Progressive Energy, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We've been working with Statkraft and Foresight for 18 months now, and it's great to formalize the company and launch our new brand. The diverse skills each partner brings mean that Grenian offers something unique to industrial hydrogen users that is not available in the wider market.”
Baddeley continued, “Progressive Energy is thrilled to spearhead the development of the initial suite of projects on behalf of Grenian and is already driving the expansion of the portfolio with larger-scale projects that will be competitive in future auction-based hydrogen allocation rounds conducted by the government.”
Matt Kelly, Vice President Hydrogen UK at Statkraft UK, expressed his delight, stating, “We are pleased to contribute our experience in renewables development and energy markets to Grenian. With many companies already procuring green energy to meet their electricity needs, this is the next step towards complete decarbonization of the industry, utilizing clean, locally produced renewable hydrogen.”
Chris Holmes, Partner at Foresight, added, “Foresight is delighted to be part of this initiative. We firmly believe in green hydrogen's potential as a key catalyst in facilitating the energy transition, as evidenced by our other commitments in this sector. The UK's Hydrogen Strategy and the recent Powering Up Britain announcements, combined with various policy initiatives, have accelerated the crucial role that green hydrogen will play in the next phase of the UK's energy transition. This presents an opportunity for Grenian to deliver a much-needed low-carbon solution for businesses and households throughout the country.”
