Uniper to add 120 MW green hydrogen capacity to its Humber project in UK

German energy company Uniper has outlined plans for the expansion of its Humber H2ub project at the Killingholme site in the Humber region of the UK to include green hydrogen.

The company revealed that the Humber H2ub (Green) includes plans for an initial electrolytic hydrogen production capacity of up to 120 MW, with the potential for future expansion.

Furthermore, Uniper announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with Phillips 66 Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S.-based energy company Phillips 66, under which the two parties will work together towards a supply of green hydrogen from the Humber H2ub (Green) project to Phillips 66 Limited’s Humber Refinery from 2029.

The hydrogen will be used to replace refinery fuel gas in industrial-scale fired heaters as part of Phillips 66 Limited’s plans to reduce the Humber Refinery’s scope 1 operational emissions, Uniper said.

The Humber H2ub (Green) project development and the supply agreement with Phillips 66 Limited are subject to financial investment approval from Uniper’s and Phillips 66 Limited’s management as well as several pre-conditions that would have to be satisfied, including securing the necessary planning consents and environmental permit, agreement on terms for the hydrogen offtake and a low carbon hydrogen agreement with the UK government, Uniper noted.

Guy Phillips, Team Lead, Business Development Hydrogen, UK for Uniper, commented: “The Humber H2ub (Green) project is a key part of Uniper’s hydrogen ambitions in the UK and we’re pleased to be collaborating on it with Phillips 66 Limited. The Humber region is recognized as the UK’s most carbon-intensive industrial region and hydrogen will be vital in decarbonizing and securing the region’s economy. The Humber H2ub (Green) project could make an important contribution to kick-starting the hydrogen economy in the Humber region.”

Duncan Hammond, Humber’s Decarbonization Projects Manager at Phillips 66 Limited, stated: “Hydrogen refuelling will be a big step in lowering the refinery’s emissions as we evolve with the energy transition. Energy security is vital for the UK. Utilizing technologies such as low carbon hydrogen produced by electrolysis and also carbon capture will enable us to continue to produce essential products for the transport sector and supply chain, some of which are used in the production of electric vehicle batteries, wind turbine blades, pharmaceuticals and much more. We believe hydrogen will attract new industry, protect jobs and develop the local economy.”

To remind, at the beginning of 2022, Uniper signed a cooperation agreement with UK energy major Shell to progress plans for low-carbon hydrogen production at the Killingholme site. At the time, Uniper revealed that this Humber H2ub project includes plans for a blue hydrogen production facility with a capacity of up to 720 megawatts.