Marubeni’s green hydrogen project in Bridgend has been shortlisted in the latest round of allocations for the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, which supports the development of green hydrogen projects in the UK.

HyBont incorporates a green hydrogen production and refuelling facility, partially powered by a dedicated solar farm, which would produce and store low carbon energy to meet the demands of the local area. The green hydrogen produced by the plant will be used as fuel for the transportation sector, such as fuel cell vehicles, and is being assessed as the source for a district heating system, contributing to decarbonisation in Bridgend.

In July 2022, Marubeni and Bridgend County Borough Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly research and develop the Project. The partnership will leverage Marubeni’s expertise in hydrogen production and Bridgend County Borough Council’s local knowledge and resources to drive the development of the green hydrogen project.

George Dodd, Senior Vice-President at Marubeni Europower, said:

“Our collaboration with the Council comes at a critical time as the UK Government aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Green hydrogen has been identified as a key solution to decarbonise the energy system, and the project is expected to make a significant contribution to this goal. The development of HyBont green hydrogen project will also bring economic benefits to the local community, creating jobs and promoting sustainable growth in the region.”

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero expect to award contracts totalling up to 250MW of capacity, subject to affordability and value for money, in autumn/winter 2023, with first projects becoming operational in 2025.