Hydrogen is a key fuel that can be used in heavy industry, transport and power generation. The technology for producing hydrogen already exists and is proven. All types of low carbon hydrogen will be needed at scale, including both electrolytic (green) hydrogen, which is produced from renewable energy sources, and more conventional hydrogen-production methods combined with carbon capture and storage technologies. Once produced, hydrogen can also be refined into renewable liquid fuels – such as synthetic diesel and sustainable aviation fuel – providing a clean energy source for vehicles and whole industries that currently rely on carbon-intensive fuels.   

For the Humber, hydrogen offers a low carbon alternative for those parts of the regional economy, which are more difficult to decarbonise, such as its heavy industry, supporting the region’s transition to a decarbonised future.  

The Humber is one of four target locations in the UK, recognised by the Government as an ideal area for the creation of new industrial hubs; combining all the required elements to link decarbonised energy, transport and industry. 

Situated in the heart of the industrial Humber, our Killingholme site has huge potential as an energy transformation hub, supporting the region’s transition to a decarbonised future. It is an ideal location for large-scale low carbon hydrogen production. It offers a suitable large plot space to facilitate electrolysis-based hydrogen production, adjacent to existing industrial facilities which are seeking to decarbonise. 

The hydrogen produced by the Humber H₂ub® (Green) project could be used in those parts of the regional economy which are more difficult to decarbonise (such as heavy industry, transport, and power). The electrolytic (green) hydrogen production facility would be developed as part of Uniper’s wider aspirations for our Energy Transformation Hub Killingholme. 

The Humber region is recognised as the UK’s most carbon intensive industrial region and hydrogen will be vital in decarbonising and securing the region’s economy. As part of a first phase of hydrogen refuelling to reduce some of the Humber Refinery’s scope 1 operational emissions, Phillips 66 Limited plans to take around 45 tonnes per day of electrolytic (green) hydrogen (equivalent to 100MW electrical capacity) from our proposed Humber H₂ub® (Green) development. This would contribute to a saving of around 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year, as part of Phillips 66 Limited's wider plans to reduce scope 1 emissions at the refinery. 

The potential development of a hydrogen production facility at our Killingholme site could also help to maintain economic prosperity in the Humber region. Based on our initial assessments, we anticipate that if consented and developed, the Humber H₂ub® (Green) electrolytic hydrogen production facility could create up to 110 jobs on site during construction and up to 440 jobs for the UK as a whole. Based on pre-FEED assessments, we anticipate the proposed facility could create approximately 13 permanent full and part time operational roles. 

As well as the permanent on-site jobs that are expected to be created once Humber H₂ub® (Green) becomes operational, the electrolytic (green) hydrogen production facility could support over 100 additional jobs across the region and wider UK associated with its maintenance and electricity supply. Operation of the proposed facility is also expected to deliver over £40m per annum of GVA in present value terms for the UK economy. Of this, up to £20m per annum could benefit the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The proposed new hydrogen production facility would be built on Uniper’s land at Chase Hill Road, Killingholme, adjacent to the existing power station.

The map below shows the indicative location for any new infrastructure that would be built on our site, as part of the proposed Humber H₂ub® (Green) project. Please note that these plans are still in an early stage of development and are subject to change following feedback and consultation with the local community, local authorities and other organisations.

The final design will be determined during Front End Engineering Design (FEED) studies.

Image shows indicative site plan.

The specific technology requirements and design of the proposed facility will be determined during the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase. However, our preliminary design work suggests that no part of the proposed Humber H₂ub® (Green) project development will be higher than the existing power station. The image below provides a computer-generated representation showing what it could look like.  

The Humber H₂ub® (Green) project plans to produce electrolytic (green) hydrogen which meets the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard. Electrolytic, or green hydrogen, is hydrogen produced via a process of electrolysis, which is splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen, using electricity from renewable and other sources of low carbon power. 

The electricity for the Humber H₂ub® (Green) hydrogen project could come from a range of sources; future on site development, renewable generation, as well as low carbon power generation, either directly connected to the electrolyser or via the national grid, enabled by power purchase agreements and renewable guarantees of origin.

In March 2024, Uniper and Phillips 66 Limited signed a collaboration agreement to work together towards a supply of electrolytic (green) hydrogen from the Humber H₂ub® (Green) project to Phillips 66 Limited’s Humber Refinery. The hydrogen would be used to replace some refinery fuel gas in industrial scale fired heaters as part of Phillips 66 Limited’s plans to reduce the Humber Refinery’s scope 1 operational emissions. 

Uniper aims to be carbon-neutral by 2040* and is investing around 8 billion euros in its strategic transformation until the early 2030s. Through investments in renewable energy, hydrogen and other low-carbon energy carriers, Uniper is also driving the transformation of the energy system. 

We have also invested to enable the integration of more renewables onto the UK energy system by providing dedicated inertia services to the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) at our Killingholme and Grain facilities.

The development of a large scale hydrogen production hub at Killingholme could supply local industry, power and transport, on the South Humber bank and beyond. There is also the potential for the hydrogen to be used as an alternative fuel to natural gas to decarbonise the existing power station; however this is not the initial focus for the project.

The best solution for delivering the hydrogen produced at Killingholme will be determined during Front End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, which are due to take place from 2026. However, it is anticipated that the hydrogen will be delivered via a dedicated pipeline.  

The pipeline route is still to be decided, but options currently under consideration include an eastern route that would follow Rosper Road before entering the refinery, and a western route. A decision on the preferred pipeline route will be made prior to the submission of our pipeline planning application and following the conclusion of discussions with the landowners along the routes being considered.

Uniper has a long-standing presence at Killingholme and understands the importance of being a good neighbour. As part of our Environmental Impact Assessment, we have carried out a traffic and transport assessment that concluded there is no significant impact expected during construction. 

We will continue to work with Highways England (HE) and North Lincolnshire Council to evaluate which roads may be used to access the site, and recommend appropriate measures to help manage construction traffic levels effectively.

A Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) will be prepared as part of the next phase of the project.

The design of the proposed facility will be determined during the front end engineering and design (FEED) phase that is expected to start in early 2026. Our current expectation is that during construction and operation of the proposed facility, traffic would access the Humber H₂ub^® (Green) site from our Killingholme Power Station’s existing access point on Chase Hill Road.

It is anticipated that heavy goods vehicle (HGV) construction traffic would follow a route from the A180 onto the A160 and then along Eastfield Road before turning onto Chase Hill Road to reach the site. Exiting traffic would turn left onto Chase Hill Road and follow the continuation as Rosper Road to return to the A160 and A180. These arrangements offer a turn left in / left out for HGVs during the main construction works and would avoid the main residential areas along East Halton Road.

As part of our Environmental Impact Assessment, we have carried out a traffic and transport assessment that concluded that there is no significant impact expected. A Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) will be prepared as part of the next phase of the project.

We submitted our planning application to North Lincolnshire Council (NLC) in September 2025, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. 

Before submission of the planning application, Uniper carried out a programme of public consultation, as agreed with the local planning authority – North Lincolnshire Council - who will determine the project’s planning application. This consultation programme provided an opportunity for local communities and stakeholders to ask questions and provide feedback on our proposals, and where possible, helped to inform our planning application to the Council. 

Our public consultation for the Humber H₂ub^® (Green) project proposals ran from 8-29 November 2024, including a drop-in public consultation session on 19 November 2024 at North Killingholme village hall. For more information on our consultation please visit our dedicated consultation website here.

Uniper has a long-standing presence at Killingholme and understands the importance of being a good neighbour. To ensure local people are consulted on our proposals, we agreed a programme of public consultation with the local planning authority – North Lincolnshire Council - who will determine whether the project can go ahead. This consultation programme provided an opportunity for local communities and stakeholders to ask questions and provide feedback on our proposals, and where possible, will help to inform our planning application to the Council.  

For more information on our consultation and details of how you can have your say, please visit our dedicated consultation website at https://uniperuk.consulting/hhgreen/.