Major hydrogen pipeline eyed to decarbonise Welsh industry

Wales & West Utilities (WWU) has unveiled plans for a major hydrogen pipeline in south Wales – HyLine Cymru – which would help to accelerate the decarbonisation of industry and gas consumers in the region.

Should the pipeline be built, it is expected to open up a pathway for commercial scale hydrogen production in Pembrokeshire, Port Talbot and in the Celtic Sea, and provide infrastructure for energy intensive industrial customers to commence with fuel-switching their processes over to hydrogen in the 2030s or before, as well as offer the potential to facilitate a conversion of home heating to hydrogen and connect to National Grid’s Project Union.

WWU is leading the project, with Associated British Ports, Dolphyn Celtic Sea Developments, LanzaTech, National Grid Gas Transmission, Pembrokeshire County Council, RWE, Shell and Tata Steel UK also involved in exploring the feasibility for such a pipeline network stretching between Pembroke and the Swansea Bay area.

Chris Williams, Head of Industrial Decarbonisation at Industry Wales, said: “This proposed hydrogen pipeline will unlock opportunities for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea and help ensure that renewable development is maximised for the benefit of industry in south Wales. Hydrogen infrastructure is crucial for the development of SWIC (South Wales Industrial Cluster), and to enable industrial fuel switching where electrification is not an option. This project will significantly de-risk hydrogen production and demand projects which need connecting infrastructure and help secure the 100,000 people employed in south Wales industries as they go through their just transition to net zero.”