Members of the public are being consulted on plans for the Ferrybridge Next Generation Power Station that will potentially provide a hydrogen-capable power station.

SSE Hydrogen Developments is developing the power station so that it can run on hydrogen, as a lower-carbon alternative to natural gas. It would also be able to operate using natural gas or a blend of hydrogen and natural gas until a technically and commercially viable hydrogen supply becomes available to the site.

Once a site of coal-fired stations, Ferrybridge has a long history of power generation. SSE has owned and operated generation assets at the site for more than 20 years. Before this, the first power station started operation more than 100 years ago.

The site would have a capacity of up to 1.2GW, providing reliable flexible back-up power during periods of peak demand and balancing the system when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine.

Construction, subject to consent and a final investment decision could start in 2028, with completion in the early 2030s. Alongside this, SSE is already constructing a battery energy storage system at Ferrybridge, which is due to enter operation this year.

As part of a wider strategy to develop hydrogen power in the UK, SSE is also developing hydrogen production and storage projects partnership with Siemens Energy to deliver gas turbine technology capable of running on 100 pe cent hydrogen by 2030.

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