Manchester’s third hat-trick in 24 hours arrived this morning, as innovators Carlton Power announced planning clearance for the North West’s first low-carbon hydrogen hub.

Trafford Council have given the green gas centre its green Mancunian light.  Borough planners removed a major hurdle on the way to constructing the £300 million Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme on Carlton-owned land.

First announced in March 2021, the scheme’s 200MW boilerplate capacity marks it out as the UK’s biggest green hydrogen venture now consented.

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Developers Carlton Power see their Trafford Green Hydrogen concept as catalysing low carbon generation and greater energy security in the North West.

The first phase of the Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme – a modest 15MW to 20MW – is likely to create around 200 construction jobs and 10 operational ones over two years. Future buildout will be linked to demand for hydrogen in the region.

Finance for the project remains a hurdle to be overcome.  The scheme needs support from the government’s Hydrogen Investment Package, a multi-million pound programme to encourage the growth of the hydrogen economy across the UK.

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Manchester mayor Andy Burnham enthused: “The development of the Trafford Green Hydrogen project, as a part of the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, will be a spur for industry and transport operators in the Greater Manchester region to accelerate their plans to use green hydrogen and achieve their net zero carbon targets.

Hailing the job creation potential in Trafford’s Low Carbon Energy Park, Burnham enthused: “I’m delighted that Greater Manchester is in the vanguard of creating a vibrant hydrogen economy in this country.

“I urge the UK Government to support this pioneering scheme,” the mayor stressed.

Carlton Power’s partners in advancing the project include Manchester Metropolitan University, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority over which Burnham presides, plus Trafford Council, plus Cadent Gas and DNO Electricity North West.

It is examining other types of energy schemes to be situated within the park’s 12 hectares.

If built, the venture will be located next to one of Europe’s largest energy storage stations to be based on liquid air technology: the 250MWh Carlton Highview Power project, announced in June 2020).  Others may follow.

Carlton are following similar partnership-driven applications for its two other intended green hydrogen plants, at Barrow-in-Furness and at Langage, near Plymouth.

Eric Adams, Carlton’s hydrogen projects director, said: “Trafford Green Hydrogen is ideally situated to provide local industry and transport operators with low-carbon hydrogen fuel.  The economic and environmental benefits are clear.

“Working with our local partners, our focus now turns towards securing the UK Government’s support to this project and our proposed green hydrogen schemes,” Adams added.

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