The UK government has confirmed that 10 projects from the first phase of its flagship Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1) are now cleared to begin construction, marking a significant step in the nation’s clean energy ambitions.

These initiatives are expected to create over 700 jobs—including apprentices, graduates, pipeline installers, and engineers—and attract more than £400 million of private capital investment between 2024 and 2026, reinforcing both economic growth and technological innovation under the Plan for Change.

The approved hydrogen projects will be located in key industrial regions—South Wales, Bradford, northern Scotland, and Teesside—and will provide long-term contracts to decarbonize heavy industries with low-carbon hydrogen produced domestically.

Among them, the HyMarnham project in Newark (Nottinghamshire) is already under construction, retrofitting the High Marnham former coal-fired power plant into a clean hydrogen hub. Meanwhile, Cromarty Hydrogen in northeast Scotland will install three 5 MW electrolysers to supply local industries, including distilleries.

This announcement coincides with Kimberly Clark becoming the first major UK consumer goods company investing significantly in green hydrogen. Alongside partners HYRO, Carlton Power, and Schroders Greencoat, they are committing £125 million to HAR1 projects at Barrow in Furness (Cumbria) and Northfleet (Kent).

Sarah Jones, Minister for Industry, stated that this is “the first time the government is rolling out hydrogen at scale,” emphasizing the creation of thousands of jobs across industrial Britain's heartlands and its role in decarbonizing heavy industry.

Neil McDermott, CEO of Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC), remarked that signing the first low-carbon hydrogen agreements brings income stability for producers and signals a clear role for hydrogen in the UK’s future energy system.

Dan Howell, Managing Director at Kimberly Clark UK & Ireland, said the investment shows that manufacturing industries can lead the technical challenge of adopting green hydrogen at scale.

In parallel, the government has allocated an extra £500 million to launch the first hydrogen transport and storage network, enabling connection between producers and industries or power plants. A public consultation on blending hydrogen into the national gas grid has also been announced to evaluate its economic and technical feasibility. HAR1 projects will have access to more than £2 billion in revenue support over 15 years, plus over £90 million in capital expenditure support via the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.