THE developer behind a green energy hydrogen hub to be built next to Kimberly-Clark has submitted an application for hazardous substances consent. 

Barrow Green Hydrogen Limited put in an application to Westmorland and Furness Council and the consultation is now open.

The developer was given consent to build a 30MW hydrogen electrolyser with associated buildings, infrastructure and internal access roads at the Meeting Industrial Estate on 16 June last year. 

The electrolyser is expected to produce 3,000 tonnes of hydrogen every year, which is enough carbon energy to supply the equivalent on 10,000 homes. 

This new application is to determine if the site can store hydrogen, which is listed under section six of the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2015.

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The developer wants to build six gaseous hydrogen tanks on land forming part of the Meeting Industrial Estate extending two hectares to the west of the A590, totalling two tonnes of green hydrogen stored at one time. 

The Barrow Green Hydrogen Hub will be the first of its kind in Cumbria. As of March last year, the hub was slated to enter operation in 2025 to reduce Kimberly-Clark's reliance on natural gas for its global decarbonisation strategy. 

The project is due to employ around 200 people during its construction and around ten full-time once in operation. 

The developer states in the application that the site contains no designated ecological sites, although acknowledges there are designations associated with Walney Channel and Morecambe Bay half a kilometre to the west.

Because the tanks will be an existing industrial estate, and there will be no harmful emissions or excessive noise from the plant, the developer does not 'expect' there to be any impact. 

The application continues: "The project has and will continue to be designed in line with good engineering practice and a specific design standard will be adopted for the whole hydrogen production facility and associated pipeline(s) alongside the relevant regulations for storing hydrogen."