National Highways has raised the stakes on the climate impact of the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), claiming that it aims to be ‘carbon neutral in construction’ as it launched what it said is one of the UK’s largest ever purchases of low-carbon hydrogen for use on the scheme.
As Highways has reported, the government-owned company is aiming to buy the supply, storage and distribution of over six million kilograms (6,200 tonnes) of hydrogen to use on the project, which will replace around 20 million litres of diesel, as part of a plan to remove an estimated total of 66 million litres of diesel from the scheme’s worksites.
National Highways said this would reduce the carbon footprint of the scheme, accelerate the construction industry’s shift away from diesel, and kick start the development of a hydrogen ecosystem in the Thames Estuary.
It added that the move kick starts the Construction Leadership Council’s government-backed route map to eliminate diesel from most construction sites by 2035, by giving major firms and suppliers the confidence to invest in hydrogen skills and technologies.
The company said that while projects such as HS2 have trialled small hydrogen generators, the LTC would be the first in the UK to use the fuel on a large scale to power its major construction vehicles such as excavators and dump trucks.
It added that by securing the supply of such a high volume of hydrogen, National Highways is giving its supply chain the confidence to invest in the next generation of hydrogen powered machines and develop the new skills required to operate and maintain them.
Matt Palmer, the scheme’s executive director, said: 'The proposed Lower Thames Crossing is designed to be the greenest road ever built in the UK, with the aim of being carbon neutral in construction.'
The company has previously said that the planned tunnel between Kent and Essex has been designated a pathfinder project to explore carbon neutral construction, but does not appear to have set that as an objective for the scheme itself.
In fact, the scheme’s application for a development consent order, which is currently the subject of public hearings, puts the carbon emissions from the scheme’s construction at 1.763 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Nusrat Ghani MP, minister for industry and economic security, said ‘I’m pleased to now see National Highways' plans to replace diesel with hydrogen on the proposed Lower Thames Crossing project.
‘This will not only drive forward our construction sector’s net zero transition but also help to create a new hydrogen ecosystem in the Thames Estuary, moving us forward towards a cleaner, greener industrial future.’
National Highways said the project also plans to use electric plant for static or slow-moving machinery, where a mains connection is possible and in smaller equipment where battery solutions are viable. Other renewable fuel sources and biofuels may also be used.
Laura Blake, chair of Thames Crossing Action Group, which opposes the project, said: ‘As far as we can see there are no guarantees that any of what National Highways/LTC are claiming would actually happen if the proposed crossing goes ahead.
‘There is nothing within the draft DCO to secure this legally. Hydrogen construction machinery is still in prototype stage, and green hydrogen is expensive and not readily available. Production of hydrogen uses a lot of electricity, and our country is already experiencing shortages.‘
She added: ‘There has been no mention of the cost of making the proposed LTC greener, but as hydrogen is more expensive it is expected the already high cost would rise further, and therefore the already low Benefit Cost Ratio would drop even more. Value for money is something the examiners are already asking questions about.
‘We don’t believe such a hugely destructive and harmful project can ever be considered green, and it would still fail to meet scheme objectives.’
If the scheme obtains development consent, construction is currently due to start in 2026.
