The Port of Tilbury has teamed up with German energy group RWE and Japanese investment firm Mitsui to develop an innovative hydrogen project at the Essex port.
The partnership follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the parties to pursue two green hydrogen initiatives:
• A small-scale demonstrator project to produce green hydrogen, serving as a "proof of concept" for decarbonising port equipment by transitioning from fossil fuels to hydrogen.
• An initial study for a 10-megawatt green hydrogen plant on the Port of Tilbury's land, previously occupied by a coal-fired power station. The project will explore options for scaling up the plant's capacity over ten years, potentially exceeding 100 megawatts. The hydrogen produced will be used for port infrastructure, operations, and provided to surrounding industries.
Dehenna Davison MP, Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, commented: “This project is another great example of freeports driving the UK’s shift to a dynamic, low-carbon economy by developing the industries of the future.
“This will bring great local opportunities by creating exciting new careers for people, demonstrating one of the many reasons why freeports are at the core of our levelling up agenda.”
Peter Ward, Commercial Director at the Port of Tilbury, said: “This is an important opportunity to support the Port of Tilbury’s commitment to achieving Net Zero for our customers. Our business has set out our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2032 and Net Zero by 2042 by investing in the infrastructure in the ports.
Steve Boughton, RWE Director Hydrogen Development, said: “Hydrogen is a key component of the energy transition and we want to play a leading role in this, aiming to develop 2GW of capacity by 2030. This collaboration with Mitsui and the Port of Tilbury is for an innovative project combing production and industrial customer use with potential fuel switching of port equipment.”
“Hydrogen will play an essential role in the pathway to net zero, particularly in hard to decarbonise industry. We are committed to playing a full part in the delivery of this emerging technology in the UK, and at the same time creating skilled green jobs.”
Shinya Umehara, General Manager of Mitsui’s Hydrogen Solutions Business Division, said. “Hydrogen is one of the areas identified for Mitsui’s key strategic initiatives as stated in the Medium-term Management Plan 2026. Through this project, Mitsui is looking forward to playing an important role in the realisation of the UK’s hydrogen strategy in collaboration with the Port of Tilbury and RWE.”