Let’s make Hydrogen Happen

What role will Centrica play in the UK's energy transition with low carbon hydrogen?

Hydrogen is one of the low carbon solutions that will be critical for the UK’s transition to net zero.

For the UK to meet its 2050 net zero commitment, low carbon hydrogen solutions must be rapidly scaled through the next decade to help tackle the emissions from hard-to-decarbonise sectors.

The production of low carbon hydrogen cannot be scaled without a market for clean hydrogen, demand-side technologies will not be developed and deployed without a source of hydrogen, and large-scale projects cannot come forward without both hydrogen network and storage assets.

Below we explore some of the hydrogen projects that we’re driving forward.

Redeveloping Rough

We want to redevelop Rough to provide hydrogen-ready gas storage to boost UK energy security and support the transition to a net zero energy system

Located in the heart of the Humber region, Rough has provided proven gas storage for the UK for over 30 years but its operation must evolve.

Rough can be redeveloped to increase gas storage capacity to at least 35TWh to boost UK energy security, and provide future hydrogen storage of up to 16TWh.

This redevelopment can create over 4,000 transient jobs across the supply chain and a further 100 full-time jobs post-completion.

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Hydrogen to Humber (H2H) Easington

We’re transitioning a historic gas terminal to a low carbon hydrogen hub.

The Easington Terminal has been one of the UK’s main sites for receiving and processing natural gas since 1967. Currently up to one third of the UK’s total gas supply enters via Easington, a key hub in the UK's energy landscape.

In 2022, Centrica and Equinor signed an agreement to explore developing a low-carbon hydrogen production hub at Easington. This strengthens the Humber’s Net Zero ambitions and its growing status as the UK’s leading hydrogen region.

Proposals have since been developed for a multi-stage project which could scale-up over time as the hydrogen economy develops. Engineering studies have assessed the technical feasibility for up to 1.0GW of green hydrogen and up to 1.2GW of blue hydrogen within the 2030s. This transition would safeguard many of the existing jobs at the terminal, whilst creating more opportunities for employment.

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Video: Developing a low-carbon hydrogen production hub at Easington

Humber Hydrogen Hub (HHH)

As part of the wider Hydrogen to Humber (H2H) plans, the Humber Hydrogen Hub (HHH), under development by partners Equinor, Centrica Energy Storage + and SSE Thermal, proposes a focused network of hydrogen producers and users in the Holderness region of East Yorkshire, connected by dedicated pipelines.

Find out more here.

Hydrogen to Humber Easington Plans

The Humber Hydrogen Hub could help to meet the Government's UK-wide target of 10GW of low carbon hydrogen by 2030 and demonstrate a model to be rolled-out in industrial regions throughout the world.

Hydrogen to Humber Easington

Centrica Gas Storage Facility Easington East Yorkshire 0 5 (1)

Redditch Peaking Plant

Construction is complete on Centrica’s new 20MW hydrogen-blend-ready gas-fired peaking plant in Worcestershire, transforming the previously decommissioned Redditch power plant.

The plant is designed to support times of high or peak demand for electricity.

The Redditch peaking plant forms part of Centrica’s plans to invest between £600m - £800m a year until 2028 in renewable generation, security of supply, and its customers, including building out a portfolio of flexible energy assets.

Whitegate Combined Cycle Gas Turbine

Alongside Mitsubishi Power Europe Limited, we’re exploring the development, construction, and operation of Europe's first-ever ammonia-fired power generation facility at Whitegate Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power station in Cork.

The utilisation of low carbon ammonia as a clean and sustainable fuel source for power generation has the potential to provide security of supply while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

We hope to be able to show how hydrogen could be stored and transported as low carbon ammonia, delivering cleaner energy for customers at the point of use.

Find out more here