Uniper targets green hydrogen production in UK

German energy firm Uniper and consortium partners have secured funding from the UK government to produce hydrogen at the port of Immingham by 2025.

Uniper won the funding from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) along with Associated British Ports, energy technology company Siemens Energy, and the trading arm of Toyota Group, Toyota Tsusho.

Project Mayflower is a 20MW green hydrogen production facility. Hydrogen from the site will be used to replace the use of fossil fuels at the port or be used in producing hydrogen-based marine fuels like ammonia.

Hydrogen-based fuels have been backed by the World Bank and the IEA as promising marine fuels to decarbonise shipping.

Ammonia has a higher energy density than hydrogen and is easier to use aboard vessels, but hydrogen is the preferred fuel for fuel cell technology on ships.

The companies will now undertake a full feasibility study, reviewing the technical and economic requirements for the project including the conversion of existing infrastructure for hydrogen generation and storage.

Uniper will lead the feasibility study, with engineering designs expected to commence in 2022, and potential financial investment decisions taking place in 2023.

The electrolyser will be developed by Siemens Energy and is probably going to be a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM). PEM is a newer technology and offers more flexibility than older alkaline electrolysers, but is more expensive.

The facility could source renewable electricity nearby from Uniper's Killingholme power station, Uniper said. Toyota Tsusho will assess how to upgrade port infrastructure for hydrogen.

The port of Immingham is the biggest in the UK by tonnage and a hub for road, rail and sea transport, making it a good location for the hydrogen facility.

The CMDC is part of the UK government's transport decarbonisation strategy. The competition will contribute £20mn ($27.55mn) in investment from the government to reduce emissions in the maritime sector.

Uniper and the Port of Rotterdam are advancing their 100MW green hydrogen production facility at the Maasvlakte site in Rotterdam.

By Nana Kutin