Carlton Power, one of the UK’s most experienced energy infrastructure development companies, has secured planning permission for Greater Manchester’s first low-carbon H₂ fuel hub. The planning consent, received from the Trafford Council local authority, is an important milestone in the development of the 200-MW Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme, which is located within Carlton Power’s Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.

The £300-MM scheme, first announced in March 2021, is now the UK’s largest consented green H₂ scheme.

Strategically, Trafford Green Hydrogen will be a catalyst for more low carbon generation and greater energy security in the North West, and will boost investment in new energy infrastructure and job creation in the area. The first phase of the Trafford Green Hydrogen scheme (at 15 MW–20 MW) is likely to create around 200 construction jobs over a two-year period and create up to 10 full-time operational jobs with future phases to be constructed in response to demand for H₂ in the region.

The scheme’s construction and operation is contingent on receiving financial support from the Government’s H₂ Investment Package, a multi-million pound program to encourage the growth of the H₂ economy across the UK.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester said, “The development of the Trafford Green Hydrogen project, as a part of the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park, will be a spur for industry and transport operators in the Greater Manchester region to accelerate their plans to use green hydrogen and achieve their net zero carbon targets.  It also provides an important stimulus to job creation in Greater Manchester and further investment in renewable energy generation which will, in time, provide greater energy security.  I’m delighted that Greater Manchester is in the vanguard of creating a vibrant hydrogen economy in this country, and I urge the UK Government to support this pioneering scheme.”

Carlton Power is taking forward the project with the support and involvement of a local consortium, comprising Manchester Metropolitan University, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Trafford Council, Cadent Gas and Electricity North West. 

Carlton Power is also examining other types of energy schemes to be situated within the ca. 12 hectare Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.      

Eric Adams, Hydrogen Projects Director at Carlton Power said, “Trafford Green Hydrogen is ideally situated to provide local industry and transport operators with low-carbon hydrogen fuel. It will also stimulate investment in the region’s energy infrastructure and accelerate the region’s energy transition. The economic and environmental benefits are clear. Working with our local partners, our focus now turns towards securing the UK Government’s support to this project and our proposed green hydrogen schemes at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and Langage in the South West of England.”

The proposed H₂ hub facilities at Trafford Park, Barrow and Langage will produce and store H₂ at scale and help integrate renewable energy on a regional scale through the storage of solar and wind energy.

If built, Trafford Green Hydrogen will be located next to one of Europe’s largest energy storage facilities based on liquid air storage: the 250MWh Carlton Highview Power project (announced in June 2020), and potentially other forms of low carbon energy infrastructure.