The Lower Thames Crossing project has renewed efforts to find a hydrogen supplier for its construction needs after initial attempts fell through.
- The project’s market engagement exercise now values the hydrogen supply contract at up to £80M, compared to the previous £50M.
- Adjustments in the plan have led to a reduced hydrogen requirement, from 6,200 to 5,900 tonnes for the project.
- The initiative is part of the UK’s goal to create carbon-neutral infrastructure, aiming to eliminate reliance on diesel.
- The government is due to announce the decision on the development consent order for the project by 4 October.
In an effort to invigorate the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) project, a renewed market engagement has been issued to procure a low carbon hydrogen supplier. This development follows an unsuccessful prior attempt. Currently, the project’s engagement is indicative and non-contractual, setting the contract’s upper value at £80M, reflecting a substantial increase from the previous £50M offer.
The quantity of hydrogen needed has been slightly adjusted, seeing a reduction from 6,200 tonnes to 5,900 tonnes. Such adjustments are indicative of strategic recalibrations in response to various factors, including the dynamic supply of low carbon hydrogen and its pricing. According to LTC, this broadened price range is attributed not merely to hydrogen costs but also infrastructure like storage and delivery logistics.
The ambitious £9bn LTC project is committed to alleviating congestion at the Dartford Crossing by establishing a new tunnel beneath the Thames Estuary. This new road, extending 23km, includes what will become Britain’s longest road tunnel. Having already secured £800M from the government, including expenditure on a development consent order (DCO) yet to be sanctioned, the project pushes forward, aligning itself with carbon-neutral aspirations.
National Highways, a key player in this venture, is steering it towards a carbon-neutral construction paradigm, a pivotal stride for the UK in meeting its net-zero targets by 2050. This reasserted hydrogen supplier search underscores a deeper commitment to innovative, sustainable infrastructure solutions. The hydrogen initiative is particularly poised to reduce diesel reliance, fostering the use of hydrogen-powered machinery across the construction landscape.
Previously, the procurement process faced challenges, unable to secure a supplier meeting LTC’s stringent criteria. However, with lessons garnered from these setbacks, the project team aims to refine and enhance future procurement strategies. As part of the broader scheme, the construction team awarded the main contracts — a £1.34bn tunnel contract to a consortium of Bouygues Travaux Publics and J Murphy & Sons, among others — underscores the scale and scope of the coordinated efforts.
The LTC’s low carbon hydrogen endeavour covers comprehensive aspects from supply to on-site storage and dispensing. The broader infrastructure development also dovetails with a competition launched recently by National Highways, inviting designs for a low-carbon footbridge over the A127 in Essex. Kat Ferguson, LTC’s supply chain development director, stated their commitment to fundamentally transforming UK infrastructure to a net-zero aligned future, highlighting efforts to replace diesel in construction processes with hydrogen technologies, echoing their forward-thinking approach.
Ultimately, the renewed search for a hydrogen supplier reflects a steadfast commitment to transforming the UK’s infrastructure in alignment with carbon-neutral goals.
