United Utilities, the water and sewage company that serves more than 3 million homes and businesses in the North West, is investigating using green hydrogen to provide heat for a site in Manchester and it is looking for a supplier.
Most current hydrogen in use is produced from fossil gas and the process emits high volumes of carbon dioxide. In contrast, ‘green’ hydrogen is produced by water electrolysis, powered with renewable energy.
UU said that green hydrogen may be able to provide a suitable decarbonisation strategy for its heating requirements at its site in Davyhulme, Manchester. In a new tender announcement it said it wanted to understand if the market can supply “in a first phase up to 35 GWh of green hydrogen per year, ideally via pipeline, with first delivery in 2026”. To the target first delivery date, it said any project must demonstrate progress towards final investment decision, including evidence of planning permission and grid connections being available or in the process of being obtained.
UU said it was likely that any project will be a shortlisted project qualifying under the Hydrogen Business model process run by the UK government.