30 businesses and organisations have signed the letter highlighting why the Humber must become a hydrogen energy pioneer
An aerial view of Saltend Chemicals Park.(Image: Supplied)
The Humber should be picked to receive a £500m boost to become a hydrogen infrastructure pioneer, dozens of businesses and organisations across the region have said. The Government has been urged to select the Humber as the location of the UK’s first hydrogen infrastructure network in decisions which could make this year a crucial time for the region’s energy industry.
A letter has been sent from the Humber Energy Board to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, also signed by 30 businesses and organisations from across the region, including 11 major energy companies, all four local authorities, the Mayor of Hull & East Yorkshire, Humber Freeport, unions, colleges, training providers and universities. It comes as the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is due to launch a process in the first half of 2026 which will select one UK industrial region to receive £500m in funding.
The funds will back the creation of the first regional hydrogen transport and storage network, connecting hydrogen producers with end users, including power stations and industry. The Humber is expected to be among the leading contenders to receive this backing, which could create thousands of skilled jobs and supply chain opportunities.
The letter to Mr Miliband outlines why the Humber is the ideal location, given its geology, proposals for local green and blue hydrogen production facilities, prospective hydrogen customers and the need to reduce emissions. It also highlights the risks if it is not selected – including job losses. That warning follows last year’s closures of biofuels business Vivergo Fuels and Prax’s Lindsey Oil Refinery, as well as the cancellation of plans by rare earths company Pensana, redundancies at Ineos and the continued mothballing of fertilizer manufacturer Yara.
The group says new infrastructure to provide hydrogen as well as carbon capture and storage to the region is vital to future-proofing the region’s industry, while also protecting jobs and creating new ones.
Public consultations have set out proposals for a Humber Hydrogen Pipeline (HHP), initially connecting users and storage at sites including Saltend Chemicals Park, Easington Terminal, Aldbrough and the Immingham area.
The Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage (AHS) project has also consulted on the use of salt caverns to safely store the gas.
Richard Gwilliam, chair of the Humber Energy Board, said: “2026 will be a vital year for the Humber, with several game-changing decisions from Government around hydrogen and carbon capture and storage which could transform the region. Today the Humber is critical for UK energy security, and business and partners in the region want to go further.
“This incredibly strong proposal to deliver a low-carbon industrial cluster is backed by experienced energy and infrastructure companies that are prepared to invest billions to create the new opportunities that this region needs. Now is the time for the Government to unlock this potential and re-energise the Humber.”
Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, and former Energy Minister, said: “If the country is to take advantage of key technologies, reduce emissions, create jobs and cut bills, we need action. That’s why we need the government to support hydrogen and carbon capture in our area and bring investment back to the Humber.”
Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes, added: “The Humber is the ideal place to locate the UK’s first hydrogen network, given its geology, geography and the wide range of key industries on both banks of the Humber Estuary that can benefit from its use. Hydrogen will play a key role in the energy transition, helping major employers in this region to reduce emissions whilst retaining jobs and stimulating economic growth. We want to see the hydrogen economy kick-started here in the Humber.”