Ryze Hydrogen, the low carbon hydrogen distribution company founded by Jo Bamford, has agreed a deal with HyNet that will see it distribute hydrogen from the ‘ground-breaking’ facility.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for HyNet to supply 1,500 tonnes of hydrogen a year to Ryze. This hydrogen will be used to power hydrogen buses produced in the UK by Wrightbus – also owned by Jo Bamford – while the rest will be supplied to various industries across the North-West.
The HyNet project brings together the technology and infrastructure needed to drive towards a net zero future. As part of this, it will deliver the technology to capture and store carbon emissions (CCS), in addition to low carbon hydrogen production. The HyNet industrial cluster region stretches from Flintshire and Wrexham, through Cheshire, Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester into Lancashire. It believes it has the largest concentration of advanced manufacturing and chemical production in the UK and is home
to a concentration of energy-intensive users.
The HyNet low carbon cluster is being developed by a consortium of regional partners: Progressive Energy; Cadent; CF Fertilisers; Eni UK; Essar; Hanson; Inovyn (part of the Ineos Group), and; the University of Chester.
Jo said the MoU was a significant step forwards in the hydrogen sector and for the North West: “Hydrogen has a major part to play in the decarbonisation of the UK, and thanks to this deal with HyNet, Ryze Hydrogen and Wrightbus continue to be at the forefront of the movement.
“Since Wrightbus launched the world’s first hydrogen double deck bus in 2020, we’ve seen a growing momentum behind their introduction, with fleets now in operation in Aberdeen, Birmingham, London, Belfast and Dublin. We hope to soon expand into other areas of the UK, including the North West. There also continues to be a growing interest in hydrogen not only for buses, but to help with the decarbonisation of many other sectors, including heavy goods vehicles and commercial and domestic heating.
“That’s why it’s vital to have innovative projects like HyNet, creating green jobs, stimulating the green economy and ensuring the UK is able to produce enough hydrogen to meet a growing demand, and why as a distributor, Ryze will play a crucial part in unlocking use of the fuel for the transport sector.”
He added that his own green hydrogen production firm, HyGen Energy, was also looking to accelerate its work. “As a hydrogen producer, HyGen has several sites lined up where we’re looking to begin production in the near future. We wholeheartedly believe that a significant increase in hydrogen production is needed in the UK is to achieve its net zero targets.”
HyNet will start its work in the North West from 2025. By 2030, it expects to be capable of removing up to 10 million tonnes of carbon from across North West England and North East Wales each year – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road annually.
David Parkin, Project Director of HyNet said: “HyNet will be ready to start producing low carbon hydrogen from the UK’s first hydrogen production plant by the mid 2020’s. We have a huge level of demand for HyNet hydrogen from across the North West and North Wales from a range of sectors stretching from glass to food & drink to FMCGs. We are extremely pleased to be supporting Ryze to decarbonise transport as we all play our part in reaching net zero and combating climate change.”
