Trafford hydrogen hub prepares to get off the ground

The Leader of Trafford Council, Cllr Tom Ross, has visited the Trafford site which will boast Greater Manchester’s first ever low carbon hydrogen hub.

Trafford Green Hydrogen, being developed by Carlton Power, is a major green initiative that will help address our climate crisis – one of Trafford Council’s corporate priorities – by supporting the region’s bid to reach its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2038.

Trafford Green Hydrogen forms part of Carlton Power’s Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park.  It is the largest of its kind in the UK to have secured planning permission–and will use renewable energy to produce green hydrogen fuel for use in industry, as well as transport.

Trafford Council is a partner in the project, alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cadent and Electricity North West.

The first phase of Trafford Green Hydrogen is aiming to be up and running during 2025 after being granted planning permission by the Council in October 2022.

The facility will use solar and wind energy to generate hydrogen. This is recognised as a key part of the UK plans for reaching net zero carbon by 2050.

Cllr Tom Ross said: “It is exciting to be part of this project that I believe will lead the way for the decarbonisation of Greater Manchester. The hub will have the capacity to decarbonise the equivalent of over 100 million road miles that are traveled by heavy vehicles and buses each year.

“Our climate crisis is real and significant action is needed to address it. Trafford Green Hydrogen and Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park will do just that as well as represent a significant opportunity for economic growth, jobs and skills in the borough, placing Trafford at the heart of the UK’s journey to a low carbon economy.”

Eric Adams said: “The development of the Trafford Green Hydrogen project is benefiting from the support given by Trafford Council and our other local partners, so it was great to have the opportunity to host Tom Ross onsite. If we are successful in securing financial support from the UK Government, we should have the first phase of Trafford Green Hydrogen operating in 2025, which will help accelerate Greater Manchester’s progress towards NetZero.”