A NEW large-scale green hydrogen production facility is set to open in the region.

Oil giant BP has announced plans to open the new HyGreen Teesside facility, set to be developed in multiple stages.

New jobs in both the construction and operational phases will be created, while local education and skills development are set to be boosted by its creation.

It is hoped the facility will achieve around 60MWe of green hydrogen production by 2025, potentially rising to up to 500Mwe by 2030, in line with demand.

Read more: Chemical pollution fully ruled out as cause of crab deaths in North East

The news follows BP’s previously revealed plans for H2Teesside, its major blue hydrogen production facility which aims to be up and running within the next five years and is targeting 1GW of hydrogen production by 2030.

The combined 1.5GW capacity of HyGreen Teesside and H2Teesside could deliver 30 per cent of the UK Government’s target of developing 5GW of hydrogen production by 2030.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This is yet another coup for the region.

“It will help create well-paid, good-quality jobs for local people, as well as giving them the skills they need to have rewarding careers in the industries of tomorrow.

“We’re quickly becoming the go-to place for innovation in the hydrogen sector, thanks to our status as the UK’s first Hydrogen Transport Hub and BP’s commitment to other schemes, such as H2Teesside. A second, even more low-carbon, hydrogen production project in HyGreen Teesside will further mark us out as a clean energy powerhouse.”

The news came just days after number of BP executives visited the region, including chairman Helge Lund, for a visit to the Teesworks site and the location of Net Zero Teesside. A final investment decision on the HyGreen Teesside project is expected in 2023.

Louise Jacobsen Plutt, BP’s senior vice president for hydrogen and CCUS, added: “Low carbon hydrogen will be essential in decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors including heavy transport.

“Together, HyGreen and H2Teesside can help transform Teesside into the UK’s green heart, strengthening its people, communities and businesses. This is exactly the type of energy we want to create and more importantly deliver.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the project will create high-quality, green jobs.

He added: “I look forward to supporting industry to develop new technologies as we work towards a net-zero future.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054