NNDC backs Bacton hydrogen energy study

Date published: 15th October 2020

North Norfolk District Council is to help fund an important feasibility study into extending use of the Bacton Gas Terminal beyond its current expected life and role supporting the processing of natural gas, to create a major location for the production of hydrogen energy as the U.K. transitions to a “net zero” carbon energy economy.

The ‘Bacton 2.0’ Hydrogen Production Feasibility Study will be led by local cleaner energy experts Hydrogen East, a not-for-profit company, and the Council is matching a £12,500 funding contribution already committed by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership. The remaining £25,000 cost of study will be funded by the Oil and Gas Technology Centre.

Officers and members from the Council will also join the steering group of the feasibility study into this potentially ground-breaking greener energy project.

The Government committed in June 2019 to a 2050 net zero emissions target, which dramatically increases the need to accelerate decarbonisation of the UK economy. Achieving net zero will require fundamental changes across all sectors, with hydrogen expected to increasingly fulfil energy demand across power, heat and transport.

With the harvesting of natural gas from the North Sea being scaled down and wind energy already a major feature of life in our district and across East Anglia, the focus is also now moving to replacing natural gas energy with cleaner hydrogen gas.

The feasibility study by Hydrogen East will look into the possibility of re-purposing the existing Bacton terminal which currently supplies one-third of the UK’s natural gas, to extend the life of the facility to 2050 and beyond as the nation’s energy supply requirements shift towards greener solutions.

The backing of the study is part of the Council’s on-going commitment to improving our environment and working collectively to combat man-made climate change.

NNDC has pledged to become carbon neutral as an organisation by 2030, has undertaken a major project to plant one new tree for every resident in our district by 2023 and recently has begun rolling out electric vehicle charging points, with the first two up and running in Sheringham and Holt.

Leader of the Council, Sarah Butikofer, commented: “The Bacton feasibility study is a fantastic initiative looking at the ways in which we can work together with partners to drive the green energy agenda forward in North Norfolk. New technology and our green agenda have the potential to bring more jobs to North Norfolk, and to put us at the forefront of this fresh wave of green energy production.”