National Highways has named GeoPura, a Nottingham-based hydrogen innovator, as its supplier of green hydrogen for the Lower Thames Crossing project, delivering what is expected to be the largest volume of the fuel ever produced for a British construction project.
Valued at £32.6m, the contract will run for eight years, with a three-year preparation period and five years of hydrogen supply. There is also the possibility of two year-long extensions.
During this time, GeoPura is expected to provide 2,500 tonnes of hydrogen to the Lower Thames Crossing as a managed service, including delivery, storage and distribution to equipment on site during the main construction phase of the project.
The fuel is enough to replace over 12 million litres of diesel and save an estimated 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. It will be used to power the six hydrogen-powered generators, which the company has already provided to the project. These are currently in use on-site to charge the batteries of electric machinery.
Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald, said: ‘Hydrogen has a key role to play in our industrial strategy, and from Nottinghamshire to Kent, our first flagship hydrogen projects will sustainably power projects up and down the country.'
Matt Palmer, executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing, added: ‘We've given the green light to green hydrogen. By replacing diesel with home grown hydrogen, we're not only reducing our own carbon footprint but also helping clean up the construction sector.'
Andrew Cunningham, CEO of GeoPura, commented: ‘We're extremely proud to be supplying the largest volume of green hydrogen ever contracted for a British construction project and I congratulate the Lower Thames Crossing for setting a powerful example of how major infrastructure can be delivered sustainably. This contract award further strengthens the British hydrogen supply chain driving both price efficiency and British jobs across this new, exciting industry with tangible deployments.'
Full details of the contract can be found here.
