Lower Thames Crossing chooses hydrogen to power its green credentials

British hydrogen innovator GeoPura has today been announced as the supplier of the largest volume of green hydrogen ever produced for a British construction project, the Lower Thames Crossing.

GeoPura manufactures green hydrogen at High Marnham in Nottinghamshire.

The Lower Thames Crossing, a new road and tunnel that will tackle congestion on the Dartford Crossing and drive economic growth by creating a reliable new link between the ports of the south east, the Midlands, and the North, is planned to be the first major British infrastructure project that will be carbon-neutral during construction.

This will be achieved by replacing diesel with hydrogen, electric and other low-carbon fuels. Unlike diesel, hydrogen only emits water when used in a fuel cell, dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting air quality for both the workforce and local communities.

National Highways has announced that British producer GeoPura will supply 2,500 tonnes of hydrogen to the Lower Thames Crossing, enough to replace over 12 million litres of diesel and save an estimated 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The hydrogen will be supplied as a managed service, which includes the delivery, storage and distribution to equipment on site during the main construction phase of the project.

Six hydrogen powered generators provided by GeoPura are already at work on the project, charging batteries used in electric machinery on a work site in Essex with zero emissions. A British-made JCB hydrogen fuelled digger became the first one deployed outside a test environment anywhere in the world when it was used to carry out survey work on the project in Kent last year.

One of the hydrogen-powered generators that will be used on the Lower Thames Crossing.

GeoPura employs more than 170 people across Britain and Europe, many of whom have transitioned from traditional energy sectors. The contract will support the continued expansion and create more jobs.

Founded in 2019, GeoPura produces green hydrogen across several locations in the UK via electrolysis powered by locally sourced renewable electricity. This includes at its flagship HyMarnham Power facility in Nottinghamshire. Located on the site of a former coal-fired power station, the HyMarnham Power site is supported by government HAR1 funding and demonstrates how former fossil fuel infrastructure is being repurposed to deliver clean, secure energy for the future.

Enhancing hydrogen production capacity is a key part of the Government’s plans to increase energy security by reducing reliance on imported fuel sources that are vulnerable to disruption in supply. The emerging green energy sector has the potential to create over 400,000 jobs and add over £7 billion to the British economy by 2030.

Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald said: “GeoPura and the Lower Thames Crossing collaboration is proof that clean energy goes hand-in-hand with major British infrastructure projects.

“Hydrogen has a key role to play in our industrial strategy, and from Nottinghamshire to Kent, our first flagship hydrogen projects will sustainably power projects up and down the country.”

Matt Palmer, executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing, added: “By replacing diesel with home-grown hydrogen, we’re not only reducing our own carbon footprint but also helping clean up the construction sector.

“National Highways is supporting new jobs and skills that will put British businesses and people at the forefront of the growing clean energy sector.”

Andrew Cunningham, chief executive officer of GeoPura, commented: “We’re extremely proud to be supplying the largest volume of green hydrogen ever contracted for a British construction project and I congratulate the Lower Thames Crossing for setting a powerful example of how major infrastructure can be delivered sustainably.

“This contract award further strengthens the British hydrogen supply chain driving both price efficiency and British jobs across this new, exciting industry with tangible deployments.”

The scale of the project’s purchase will accelerate the construction industry’s progress toward net zero by requiring its Delivery Partners and their supply chain – who are three of the biggest construction firms in Europe – to invest in hydrogen-powered machinery, and develop the skills needed to operate and maintain them.