Uniper has revealed plans to produce large-scale, low carbon hydrogen through electrolysis at its Ratcliffe power station site in Nottinghamshire.
Ahead of the power station stopping generation at the end of September 2024, Uniper has set its sights on a gradual scale-up of electrolysis production capacity to eventually reach 500MW by the turn of the decade. This will see it aim to have had the first 100MW commissioned by the second-half of the 2020s.
This is all subject to a successful financial decision, along with a host of pre-conditions being satisfied. These include securing the necessary planning consents and environmental permits, hydrogen offtake agreements, and a Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreement with the government. Should all proceed as planned, it would then use this hydrogen to decarbonise industry, transport and power throughout the East Midlands.
In terms of why Uniper is eyeing Ratcliffe for hydrogen, it is down to the “several synergies” that it offers. These include existing infrastructure, such as grid connections, demineralized water, as well as a cooling water system from existing power plants; a large plot space where future electrolysis based hydrogen production up to gigawatt scale could be facilitated; and the fact that the site is part of the East Midlands Freeport.
Ratcliffe is also surrounded by potential future hydrogen customers from a range of sectors, with these engaging through the East Coast Hydrogen project and East Midlands Hydrogen initiative.
