Japanese green energy company to trial hydrogen fuel in Bridgend county
A Japanese energy company is set to invest around £26m worth of funding in Bridgend this year, with the local council signing a memorandum for the development of a green hydrogen demonstrator project in the area.
Green energy specialists Marubeni attended a welcome event in the town last week, where an agreement setting out how both organisations could work together to develop a new 5MW-class hydrogen energy initiative was discussed.
The agreement was signed after Bridgend was selected by the Marubeni Corporation, following discussions with Welsh Government as the preferred UK location for a green hydrogen demonstrator project, which aims to create an energy plant capable of generating and balancing the supply and storage of low-cost green energy.
Using the new technology, it is hoped the project could begin generating clean fuel for fleet vehicles ranging from council gritters to recycling and refuse collection lorries.
It could also be extended to cover emergency response vehicles and will consider how hydrogen fuel might be used to heat buildings such as schools, residential homes, and local swimming pools.
The Welsh Government is supporting the partnership and as the project develops, the Cardiff Capital Region has also agreed in principle to consider the opportunity for making further investment.
Cllr John Spanswick, cabinet member for Communities, said: “This memorandum of understanding formally acknowledges that Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) and Marubeni are working in partnership to explore these extremely ambitious new plans together.”
Julie James, Minister for Climate Change, added: “The impact of recent rises in energy costs has underlined the importance of developing indigenous, cleaner, greener energy sources. Initiatives like the hydrogen demonstrator project are important in providing evidence of a clean energy for BCBC and for Wales, and I am pleased that the council is working on this alongside a leading expert in renewable energy.”
By Lewis Smith, Local Democracy Reporter
