Planning approved for second UK site for Powerhouse technology

Powerhouse Energy Group plc (the UK technology company commercialising hydrogen production from plastic) announced that its UK channel partner Peel NRE (part of Peel L&P) granted planning approval for a hydrogen facility in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.

The £20 million 13,500 tonne facility at the site at Rothesay Dock on the north bank of the River  Clyde, will be the second site in the UK planning to use Powerhouse’s technology to turn waste plastic into hydrogen.

The hydrogen will be used as a clean fuel for vehicles, with plans for a linked hydrogen refuelling station on the site. It follows the UK Government doubling its hydrogen production target by 2030 as part of the recently-published Energy Security Strategy, so more clean and affordable energy can be produced in the UK as energy prices continue to rise globally.

This is the second planned facility, with the first to be delivered at Peel NRE’s Protos site in Cheshire, as announced on 10 April 2019. Peel NRE has already been granted planning approval for the Cheshire site and intends to start construction this year.

Zero Waste Scotland estimates that around 500,000 tonnes/year of waste plastic is produced in Scotland, with research undertaken by Anthesis, on behalf of Peel NRE, showing that around 300,000 tonnes are within the central belt of Scotland.

Peel NRE has signed a collaboration agreement with Powerhouse to develop 11 waste plastic to hydrogen facilities across the UK in the medium term, with the option of exclusive rights for a total of 70 facilities. The North Clyde facility is the second site to come forward under the collaboration agreement.

Richard Barker, Development Director at Peel NRE, said, “The facility will address the dual challenge of both tackling our problem of plastic whilst creating hydrogen, sustainable fuel for future generations. Whilst the focus must remain on removing plastic from society, there are still end of life plastics that need managing. The plant will play a pivotal role in making the best use of non-recyclable material, with the resulting hydrogen able to help cut carbon emissions from vehicles.”

Paul Drennan-Durose, CEO of Powerhouse, said, “The consent for a second site is another substantive step for Powerhouse, as we roll-out the process of commercialising our technology. We value the opportunity of working alongside Peel NRE, and in supporting the Scottish and UK governments in their missions to decarbonise communities and the economy.”