Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG) announced that the 30-megawatt Barrow Green Hydrogen project in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has reached a final investment decision, with Plug selected to provide electrolyzer technology for the development.
The project is being developed by Green Hydrogen Energy Company, a joint venture formed in 2023 between Schroders Greencoat and Carlton Power.
Facility to Supply Green Hydrogen to Kimberly-Clark Plant
The Barrow facility is expected to generate approximately 100 gigawatt-hours of green hydrogen annually for Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing operations in the region, where the company produces Andrex and Kleenex products.
As part of the agreement, Plug will deliver 30 MW of its GenEco Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyzers, consisting of six 5 MW units.
The electrolyzers will use renewable electricity supplied through a long-term power purchase agreement with international energy company SEFE to produce green hydrogen.
Project Aims to Cut Emissions and Gas Usage
According to the companies involved, the project is expected to reduce Kimberly-Clark’s natural gas consumption by as much as 50% while lowering carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 18,300 tonnes.
The Barrow development forms part of a broader 55 MW award secured by Plug covering three UK green hydrogen projects, including the Trafford and Langage facilities, both of which are still progressing toward final investment decisions.
All three developments received support through the UK Government’s Hydrogen Business Model under Hydrogen Allocation Round 1.
Barrow is the first of the three projects to advance into the execution stage.
Plug Highlights UK Expansion Opportunity
“With Barrow now having reached FID, we are moving our largest UK project from award into execution,” said Jose Luis Crespo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Plug Power.
Plug said it currently operates what it describes as the largest electrolytic liquid hydrogen plant in the United States and also maintains hydrogen facilities in Tennessee and Louisiana.
The company added that its global opportunity pipeline exceeds $2 billion and noted it has deployed more than 72,000 fuel cell systems and 275 fueling stations worldwide.