MEMBER NEWS: Apollo Partners with Wales & West Utilities for Groundbreaking Low Carbon Hydrogen Project in North Wales

November 30, 2023
MEMBER NEWS: Apollo Partners with Wales & West Utilities for Groundbreaking Low Carbon Hydrogen Project in North Wales

Apollo, a leading UK-based engineering and advisory provider, announces a strategic partnership with Wales & West Utilities (WWU) to undertake a major project aimed at developing a low carbon hydrogen network for North Wales. This collaboration marks a significant step towards advancing the region’s hydrogen capabilities and contributing to the UK and Welsh Government’s goals for industrial decarbonisation.

The joint project, spearheaded by WWU, will focus on conducting a comprehensive assessment of the existing infrastructure in the Deeside and Wrexham industrial estates to determine its suitability for transporting hydrogen. Apollo will play a pivotal role in providing technical expertise and insights to enhance the feasibility study’s outcomes.
Andrew Glass, Regional Director at Apollo, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are proud to partner with Wales & West Utilities in this groundbreaking initiative. Our collaboration aims to unlock the potential of existing infrastructure for the widespread adoption of a hydrogen network, contributing to a more sustainable and cost-efficient industrial landscape.”

The project’s scope encompasses evaluating the possibilities of leveraging current infrastructure for industrial and commercial (I&C) customers to adopt a hydrogen network, with a keen focus on decarbonisation. Additionally, the study will investigate the potential for new infrastructure to create additional opportunities for producing, transporting, and storing hydrogen in North Wales.

As part of WWU’s network planning strategy, the findings from this feasibility study, executed in collaboration with Apollo, may pave the way for implementing plans in the early 2030s. These plans align with the broader vision of supporting the UK and Welsh Government’s ambitions for industrial decarbonisation.

Matt Hindle, Head of Net Zero and Sustainability at WWU, emphasised the urgency of the initiative, stating, “The 2020s must be a decade of delivery. Hydrogen will be vital to decarbonise industry, retaining jobs and developing new low carbon opportunities. We’re delighted to be launching this project with support from a range of partners in the industry, in line with the UK government’s Net Zero plans.”

This collaboration builds on the momentum of WWU’s Regional Decarbonisation Pathways and the government’s Industrial Fuel Switching programme, aiming to propel North Wales into a hub for sustainable and low carbon industrial practices.

Over the past year, WWU has initiated 19 projects, with a total investment of £2.2 million, including £1.5 million of Network Innovation Allowance funding. An additional 38 projects are planned for the remainder of 2023 into 2024, demonstrating WWU’s commitment to advancing sustainable solutions and infrastructure.

Wales & West Utilities is actively investing £400 million between 2021 and 2026 in the gas network, with a vision to deliver a net-zero-ready network by 2035 and transform the entire network by 2040. The company remains dedicated to playing a crucial role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, supporting renewable energy sources, and fostering innovation in the green energy sector.

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