First 10 green hydrogen projects under HAR1 scheme begin construction, promising cleaner power and over 700 skilled jobs

Britain’s transition to clean energy surged forward this week as ten green hydrogen projects signed contracts and officially moved into construction. These projects — the first from the government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1) — are now shovel-ready, unlocking over 700 skilled jobs and injecting £400 million in private investment into the UK economy.

Hydrogen, produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, is set to power sectors that have long relied on fossil fuels, such as steel, waste disposal, distilleries, and bus transport. The effort forms part of the government’s Plan for Change — a strategy to reindustrialise the UK while reaching net-zero.

Construction is already underway at the HyMarnham site in Newark, Nottinghamshire, where a former coal-fired power station is being reborn as a green hydrogen hub. The project aims to decarbonise local waste disposal operations and represents the tangible shift from fossil fuel dependence to clean, homegrown energy.

Other projects are stretching across the country. In the Highlands, the Cromarty Hydrogen Project in Northeast Scotland will use 35MW electrolysers to serve nearby industries, including whisky distilleries. Teesside, Bradford, South Wales, and Devon are all set to host similar hydrogen initiatives.

In a major vote of confidence, global hygiene giant Kimberly-Clark — maker of Andrex and Kleenex — became the first UK consumer goods company to commit to green hydrogen. Alongside energy partners HYRO, Carlton Power, and Schroders Greencoat, the firm is pumping £125 million into two HAR1-backed hydrogen sites in Cumbria and Kent.

Sarah Jones, Minister for Industry, praised the momentum: “Hydrogen will help us cut industrial emissions and support Britain’s industrial renewal by creating thousands of jobs in our industrial heartlands.”

These long-term contracts — signed under the new Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreements — guarantee revenue stability for producers, according to Neil McDermott, CEO of Low Carbon Contracts Company. “This provides a clear signal that low-carbon hydrogen has a key role in the UK’s future energy system.”

Industry leaders echoed the milestone’s significance. Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association, said the contracts give the sector “vital momentum and confidence,” while Clare Jackson of Hydrogen UK said the announcement proved the industry’s strength and the government’s seriousness.

Gareth Mills and Kevin Selleslags, leading the Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen (BLCH) project, described their £120 million scheme as “transformational” for Birkshall, turning a former fossil gas site into a flagship low-carbon facility that will support 125 jobs.

The government also confirmed an extra £500 million for hydrogen transport and storage — the UK’s first — connecting producers with industrial end users like power stations. In parallel, a new consultation will examine the feasibility of blending hydrogen into Britain’s gas transmission network. Officials hope this could reduce system costs and potentially lower consumer bills.

Alistair Collins of HyMarnham Power called the progress “a tangible contribution to the UK’s net zero and energy security goals,” while Lucy Whitford of RES said: “British low carbon hydrogen will revolutionise how we power industry.”

As the diggers roll in, Britain’s industrial past meets its green future — and hydrogen, once elusive, is finally becoming real.