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Pathfinder

Planning applications

Planning for Pathfinder is now live and split into two parts. Public comments can be made on the ERYC Planning Portal.

24/02391/STPLFE – Comments due by 4 Dec

Construction and installation of infrastructure for the production, storage and retrieval of electrolytic hydrogen for the generation of electricity using an Open Cycle Gas Turbine and reinstatement of an existing brine discharge pipe and other supporting infrastructure.

24/02593/PHAZ – Comments due by 25 Nov

Hazardous Substances Consent for the production, storage and use of hydrogen (5460 tonnes) in addition to the permitted storage of natural gas (755000 tonnes) and methanol (50 tonnes).

Funding

Pathfinder failed to get Government backing during the last funding round. They are likely to try again for future funding rounds:

• Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 – For production costs
• Hydrogen Storage Business Model – For storage costs

The current timeline is for construction Q2 2026 – Q2 2028 and commissioning in Q3 2028.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero confirmed it will enter negotiations with SSE to provide support for its Aldbrough Hydrogen Pathfinder project on 16 August 2023.

The scoping report was submitted to East Riding Council in March 2023, consultation responses can be viewed on the planning portal under reference 23/01007/EIASCO.

Latest news

Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage

Current situation

The Public Consultation for the AHS concluded in September 2023. Feedback was submitted by 29 September.

The planning is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in September 2024. Construction is pencilled in for 2026-2029, with commissioning from 2029 onwards. This would clash with construction of Pathfinder.

The National Infrastructure Planning Inspectorate website has a page dedicated to the Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage Project where you can get an overview of the project, documents relating to the project and a timeline for what happens next. You can sign up for email updates to stay informed. The scoping report was published 31 May 2023 and the Planning Inspectorate published their opinion on 11 July 2023.

Latest news

Dogger Bank D

Current situation

On 1 March 2024, Dogger Bank D confirmed that they have been given a grid connection into the Birkhill Wood substation. This means that they are no longer pursuing the hydrogen option.

They will look to bring a cable onshore in East Riding and take it underground to the substation, which will form part of the Southern Cluster. Investigations into the optimal cable corridor are now beginning.

An application to the Planning Inspectorate is expected by Q4 2024. After receipt of the application, there will be 28 days for the Planning Inspectorate to review the application and decide whether or not to accept it for examination.

The National Infrastructure Planning Inspectorate website has a page dedicated to the Dogger Bank D where you can get an overview of the project, documents relating to the project and a timeline for what happens next. You can sign up for email updates to stay informed. The scoping report was published 21 April 2023 and the Planning Inspectorate published their opinion on 1 June 2023.

Latest news