TWO businesses in Northern Ireland among a clutch of successful applicants in the first phase of the government's £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
Fifteen projects will be awarded grant funding of £37.9 million to support the development and deployment of new low carbon hydrogen production plants.
The two from the north are Fermanagh-based building products manufacturer Mannok (formerly the Quinn group) and Wrightbus sister company Ballymena Hydrogen.
Mannok plans to design a project that will generate local green hydrogen using a direct wire connection from local wind assets using a 5MW electrolyser.
And Ballymena Hydrogen aims to instal and operate a multi-megawatt low carbon hydrogen production and distribution system in Ballymena with the capacity of meeting total hydrogen demand of more than 250 buses.
Plans were unveiled in February for an innovative multi-million pound green hydrogen production facility at the Ballymena headquarters of globally renowned sustainable bus manufacturer Wrightbus.
The facility, which is being delivered by Wrightbus in partnership with Hygen Energy, will initially produce enough clean energy to power 300 hydrogen powered buses a day in Northern Ireland.
The government has said new jobs and investment will flow from its “ambitious plan” to scale up affordable, clean, home-grown power and build thriving green industries in the UK.
After decades of reliance on importing expensive, foreign fossil fuels, the government says it want to deliver a radical shift in the energy system towards cleaner, more affordable energy sources to power more of the UK from the UK.
And it says new green technologies being developed and deployed in Northern Ireland, including hydrogen, will be central to the government's shift to a new energy security plan.
The government has set an ambition for 10GW of hydrogen production by 2030 – which could generate enough clean electricity to power all of London for a year.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said Northern Ireland is well-positioned to accelerate hydrogen innovation and deployment, and become a leader in innovative technology in the key growth area of green technology.
He added: “With the support of government funding, it is great to see innovative Mannok and Ballymena Hydrogen make vital contributions to the government's green growth mission and strengthen the Northern Ireland economy through new jobs and investment.”
Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart added: “Northern Ireland will be at the heart of our plans to power up the UK, as we support its development of new home-grown technologies of the future.
"This announcement will create opportunities for Northern Irish businesses to export their expertise around the world and set the standard for a clean, secure and prosperous future.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Thanks to our unique geography and strong expertise in clean technology, the UK is well placed to create thriving new industries in carbon capture, hydrogen and floating offshore wind across the country.
“By investing in new ways to power the UK, we will not only strengthen our long-term energy security, but also deliver on our promise to grow the economy with well-paid jobs and opportunities for businesses to export their expertise around the world.”
