The Gigastack Project has moved a step closer to delivering renewable hydrogen at an industrial scale, having concluded its second phase.
On 12 November, ITM Power, Phillips 66, Ørsted and Element Energy – the consortium behind the project – published a report, detailing how the second phase of the project has focused on accelerating the expansion of the UK’s renewable hydrogen sector. It has involved taking feasibility stage concepts through to Front End Engineering Design for a 100MW electrolyser system, using renewable power from Hornsea Two, to provide renewable hydrogen to the Phillips 66 Humber Refinery.
Overall, Gigastack Phase 2 has involved two main tracks of work. In the first, ITM Power has progressed its next generation of electrolyser technology and moved into its Gigafactory in Sheffield. This represents a step change in ambition and capacity, allowing for electrolyser stack costs to fall 40% over the next three years.
Ørsted and Phillips 66, meanwhile, have developed the technical design for an industry-scale renewable hydrogen facility near Immingham. This has involved exploring the current policy and regulatory landscape, identifying barriers to developing large-scale renewable hydrogen production facilities, identifying potential solutions, and building a business case to map a pathway to an investable proposition. It found the potential to reduce the levelised cost of hydrogen by as much as 47% by 2030.
The main goal of the consortium here is to reach a final investment decision in the next 18 months, before working towards a commercial operating date in 2025, assuming there’s a supportive policy environment. Over the next 12 months, the consortium will also be looking to work alongside the UK government to secure revenue support, agree specific deployment targets for renewable hydrogen and ensure the Gigastack deployment target of 2025 is achieved.
