Iberdrola subsidiary ScottishPower and port operators Hutchison Ports are investigating the opportunity to build a 100MW green hydrogen production facility at the Port of Felixstowe, UK.
Felixstowe is one of Britain’s busiest container ports and is currently undergoing a three-year decarbonisation project, which will also see the upgrade of the existing electricity network.
The companies are planning a 100MW facility that will deliver up to 40 tonnes of green hydrogen per day – enough to power 1300 hydrogen trucks, according to ScottishPower.
The green hydrogen will be used for onshore purposes, such as road, rail and industrial use, with the potential to create liquid forms, such as green ammonia or e-methanol.
This will provide clean fuels for shipping and aviation and will create opportunities for international export.
Engineering and site development works are underway with generation to begin in 2025.
Barry Carruthers, hydrogen director at ScottishPower said: “This strategically important project could potentially create a clean fuels hub that could unlock nationally significant decarbonisation for the region, as well as playing a role in international markets.
“It’s perfectly located not far from our existing and future offshore windfarms in the East Anglia region, and demonstrates how renewable electricity and green hydrogen can now start to help to decarbonise road, rail, shipping and industry.”
Dr Therese Coffey, local MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: “I warmly welcome Hutchison Ports’ and Scottish Power’s joint plans to explore opportunities for a large-scale hydrogen hub at the Port of Felixstowe, providing green fuel at the UK’s largest container port. It’s schemes like this – and investment from industry as well as government – which is crucial for us to reach net zero by 2050.”