AN ENERGY infrastructure development company has unveiled plans for a massive new hydrogen hub to be built at Langage Energy Park.

The 10MW hydrogen hub project, the first of its kind in Devon and Cornwall, will provide local companies – such as energy intensive industries or those with transport fleets – with easy access to hydrogen fuel.

Carlton Power wants to build its third green hydrogen hub in the UK at its Langage Energy Park between Ivybridge and Plympton.

Hydrogen is expected to play a major role over the next 20 to 30 years in reducing the UK’s CO₂ emissions, helping the UK’s journey towards Net Zero and the West Country’s efforts to decarbonise.

The first phase of the project has secured planning permission from South Hams Council, and is supported by the Heart of the South West (Hot SW) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and local low-carbon energy organisation, Regen. 

Carlton’s hydrogen project’s director Eric Adams said: “With the need, especially among industrial companies, to move away from fossil fuels and reach Net Zero, Langage Green Hydrogen and our other projects can make an important contribution to the transition to the hydrogen economy.

“A number of key industrial sectors in the South West have limited options to decarbonise so a local source of hydrogen will accelerate their Net Zero plans and the region’s wider low-carbon ambitions.”

The development and operation of Langage rests on Carlton securing financial support from the UK Government’s Hydrogen Investment Package.

If successful in securing the package, the hydrogen hub will also support further growth of renewable electricity generation - and newer forms like marine energy - by utilising it to produce and store hydrogen at times when renewable output is high but electricity demand is low.  

Merlin Hyman, Regen’s chief executive, said: “The significance of South Hams Council granting planning permission for a green hydrogen production facility at Langage Energy Park can not be overstated.

“Green hydrogen has an important role to play by using renewable electricity to manufacture a low carbon fuel that will reduce emissions from industry and heavy transport. To have one of the first green hydrogen production plants in the South West is great news for the decarbonisation of the region.”

 Claire Gibson, head of delivery at HotSW LEP said: “Hydrogen is an important part of our ambition to become the country’s green energy powerhouse, and projects like the Langage hydrogen hub are crucial to our journey to net zero.”