Port of Tilbury Highlights Green Hydrogen and Clean Energy Plans During Ministerial Visit
The Port of Tilbury has showcased its latest growth and decarbonisation initiatives during a visit by UK Maritime Minister Keir Mather MP, underlining the port’s ambitions to become a major hub for clean energy and sustainable freight infrastructure.
The minister, accompanied by Thurrock MP Jen Craft and Department for Transport officials, toured the Essex port this week to review ongoing investment projects, expansion plans and low-carbon developments. Port representatives highlighted the impact of recent infrastructure investment, including projects linked to the Thames Freeport initiative.
During the visit, the delegation was briefed on the port’s clean energy strategy, which includes electric heavy goods vehicle charging infrastructure and the development of green hydrogen production facilities. Tilbury is now home to what is described as the UK’s largest dedicated commercial vehicle charging hub, featuring a new 16-bay e-HGV charging station developed in partnership with Fleete. The project received £1 million in seed funding through the Thames Freeport programme.
The minister was also updated on the port’s planned on-site green hydrogen production facility being developed with GeoPura. The project is intended to supply hydrogen for heavy industrial applications, helping reduce diesel consumption and associated carbon emissions across port operations and related industries.
The tour included visits to Tilbury2, described as the country’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry terminal and construction materials processing hub, as well as the proposed Tilbury3 expansion site. The 100-acre brownfield development recently received outline planning permission and forms part of the Thames Freeport’s Tilbury Tax Site, with plans to support additional trade, logistics and industrial activity.
Maritime and Decarbonisation Minister Keir Mather said the Port of Tilbury is demonstrating leadership in clean energy deployment, citing both its renewable energy generation and hydrogen initiatives. He said government support for projects such as the electric charging hub reflects wider ambitions to decarbonise freight transport while supporting economic growth and job creation.
David Webster, Regional Director at the Port of Tilbury, said the visit provided an opportunity to demonstrate the scale of investment taking place across the port and its role as a strategic gateway for UK trade. He said projects including Tilbury3, electric freight charging infrastructure and hydrogen production form part of the port’s long-term strategy to combine economic expansion with lower-carbon operations.
The developments reflect growing efforts across the UK ports sector to integrate alternative fuels, electrification and clean energy technologies into logistics and industrial infrastructure as part of broader national decarbonisation objectives.
