Plans for hydrogen power plant a step closer

BP said the facility would aid "economic development and regeneration" on Teesside

Plans for a new hydrogen power plant have moved a step closer after contractors were appointed.

H2Teesside, which would be operated by BP, would be one of the UK's largest blue hydrogen production facilities.

An agreement of a statement of principles between BP and the government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has been reached over the Redcar facility.

Technip Energies and Costain have also been selected to design the facility and its infrastructure, it has been announced.

Costain will design H2Teesside's pipeline infrastructure while Technip Energies will deliver front-end engineering design for the production facility.

A spokesman for BP said the contracts represent an "important step towards commercial operations".

He said the development would support economic development and regeneration on Teesside by creating jobs in construction and operation.

He added that agreeing the statement of principles with DESNZ would enable the company to enter the final stage of negotiations for a low carbon hydrogen agreement that would "support the production of low carbon hydrogen on Teesside".

BP spokesman Andy Lane added: "The project could play a critical role in decarbonising industry on Teesside, helping to transform the region into a leading hydrogen hub and kickstart the UK’s low carbon hydrogen economy."