Projects under development by Carlton Power, Octopus Energy Generation, ScottishPower, SSE Renewables and ERM Dolphyn are among those shortlisted for support under the UK Government’s electrolytic hydrogen scheme.

The shortlist comprises 20 projects across England, Scotland and Wales totalling 250MW of capacity that have secured support under the Hydrogen Business Model (HBM)/Net Zero Hydrogen Fund process.

Contracts will be awarded in Q4 2023, with first projects becoming operational in 2025.

Carlton Power has three sites shortlisted, in Trafford in Greater Manchester, Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and Langage, near Plymouth in Devon.

Subject to final agreements with the government and investment decisions for each project, Carlton Power is aiming to start construction of each site before the end of the year.

The three schemes represent £200m of direct investment.

Eric Adams, Carlton Power’s Hydrogen Projects Director, said: “We are delighted by today’s news. Our three projects will support the efforts of industry and transport operators in these areas to decarbonise.

“They will be a catalyst for new investment and employment to support the growth of the hydrogen economy across the UK.

“We are hugely grateful for all the support we have received to date – from our project partners – such as Kimberly-Clark, from local councils, local economic partnerships and businesses and parliamentarians from all parties.”

Among the rest of the shortlist to receive support, Octopus Energy Generation and RES have three projects – one in Scotland, one in Wales and another in south-east England, while ScottishPower has secured support for its Whitelee project in Scotland and also for one in Cromarty, also in Scotland, which it is developing with Pale Blue Dot Energy.

The rest are SSE Thermal’s Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder project in Yorkshire, Hygen’s Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen, Cheshire Green Hydrogen, being developed by Progressive Energy Net Zero, ERM Dolphyn’s offshore wind connected demonstrator, Gigastack, Gordonbush Hydrogen Project (GBH2), being developed by SSE Renewables, JG Pears’ H2 Production Plant at High Marnham, in the east Midlands, HyBont, being developed by Marubeni Europower in Wales, HyGreen Teesside, being developed by BP Alternative Energy Investments, Inovyn Chlorvinyls’ Quill 2 project in north-west England, EDF Renewables’ Tees Green Hydrogen project and the Phase 1 West Wales Hydrogen Project being developed by H2 Energy and Trafigura.