Simon Fell MP has welcomed news that Barrow will benefit from investment in new hydrogen production projects, helping to bring new jobs to the town.

The Barrow and Furness MP said he had 'lobbied hard' and worked alongside Carlton Power to make 'this a reality'.

Mr Fell has met with the companies and written to Ministers to support the bid.  

Barrow Green Hydrogen will provide Kimberly-Clark and potentially other energy-intensive users in the area with hydrogen to fuel their operations.  

The Barrow Green Hydrogen scheme is to be located on land adjacent to Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing facility on Park Road (A590).

Kimberly-Clark and Carlton Power have been working together to obtain grant funding and operational financial support from the Department for Net Zero and Energy Security.  

More than 700 jobs will be created across the UK in a world-leading hydrogen industry from the South West of England to the Highlands of Scotland, backed by £2 billion in government funding over the next 15 years.  

The Conservative Government has announced backing for eleven major projects to produce green hydrogen – through a process known as electrolysis – and confirmed suppliers will receive a guaranteed price from the government for the clean energy they supply. 

  In return for this government support, the successful projects will invest over £400 million in the next three years, generating more than 700 jobs in local communities across the UK and delivering 125MW of new hydrogen for businesses including. 

Mr Fell said: “Barrow and Furness has numerous energy intensive businesses, including Kimberly Clark. This exciting new project will take companies like this off the mains grid completely and have them run solely on hydrogen power, thus providing cleaner energy to industrial Cumbria.

  “This project directly supports the Government’s ambition to decarbonise industry in line with net zero attracting inward investment and securing long-term job opportunities for our area.  
  
"The Barrow Green Hydrogen project will also attract investment into the constituency, providing supply chain developments that will accelerate the net zero transition. This early adoption and promotion of hydrogen in Cumbria will facilitate the development of skills for a green economy and enable critical local businesses to remain competitive in a global market and safeguard local jobs.” 

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “Hydrogen presents a massive economic opportunity for the UK, unlocking over 12,000 jobs and up to £11 billion of investment by 2030. 

 “The announcement represents the largest number of commercial scale green hydrogen production projects announced at once anywhere in Europe. 

  “These eleven major new hydrogen projects across the UK will create over 700 jobs and deliver new opportunities from Plymouth in England to Cromarty in Scotland.”