Proposed hydrogen village
Government confirms that Whitby will no longer be considered for the Hydrogen Village trial
Friday, 21 July 2023
The Government has officially confirmed that Whitby, Ellesmere Port, will no longer be considered as the location for the hydrogen village trial. Due to this update, the poll about the hydrogen village trial will no longer be run by the Council this summer, as planned. The Council would like to thank all residents and local members for their involvement and input with the engagement exercise about the poll.
An area within Whitby in Ellesmere Port could be home to the UK's first hydrogen village, under proposals put forward by gas distribution network Cadent and British Gas.
The area has been confirmed in a shortlist of two locations across the country hoping to be the first to use low carbon hydrogen on this scale. In 2023, the Government will confirm which location the trial programme will go ahead in. Hydrogen would be supplied to that location from 2025 for the duration of the programme - currently expected to last at least two years - and will help the UK Government decide how hydrogen could be used nationally. Households in Whitby received letters from Cadent in May 2022 explaining if they are or are not included in the proposed hydrogen village area.
The proposal, which would see up to 2,000 properties switching from natural gas to hydrogen for heating and cooking, is part of the Government's Ten Point Plan to accelerate the path to net zero by driving the growth of low carbon hydrogen across the country.
Introducing low carbon energy for homes and industry across west Cheshire is part of the Council's Climate Emergency Response plan to help the borough to reach net zero by 2045.
More information, including answers to questions and a map showing the area selected, is available to view on Cadent’s website:
You can also contact the Cadent team about the programme by:
- Telephone: 0800 035 3371
- Email: enquiries@hydrogenvillage.com