Uniper, Siemens Energy, Toyota Tsusho and Associated British Ports have submitted a joint bid into the Clean Maritime Fund for matched funding for a full feasibility study for a low carbon hydrogen supply to the Port of Immingham.

The companies say the port has the potential for green hydrogen to be produced by electrolysis. The hydrogen could then be used as a direct replacement to diesel and heavy fuel oil, or for the production of clean shipping fuels. The study would review the technical and economic feasibility of this approach and develop a clear plan for future development. A successful funding bid could allow this work to begin as early as September 2021 and a project could lead to an initial 20MW supply of green hydrogen to the Port of Immingham by 2025.

The project aims to develop a scalable decarbonisation solution within the Port of Immingham, which, if successful, would be replicable in other ports

Uniper owns the nearby Killingholme power station, which if the bid is successful, could be one of the locations for an electrolyser, powered by renewable energy.

Siemens Energy has an aspiration to be a key player in the UK market with its PEM electrolysis units.

Toyota Tsusho UK will carry out an assessment of the conversion, replacement or retrofitting of port equipment, as well as hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and potential achievable GHG reductions.

Henrik Pedersen, Chief Executive Officer, Associated British Ports, said: “This exciting project offers the Port of Immingham the opportunity to create a model for ports across the UK- and the world – to replicate, making the most of the decarbonisation potential of hydrogen.”