RWE hydrogen activities
RWE is participating in various hydrogen projects in the UK and in several countries
RWE has a clear ambition - to be carbon neutral by 2040. Since 2012 in the UK, the company has closed its three coal-fired power stations and two oil-fired stations. On its journey to decarbonisation, the company reduced UK carbon intensity by 43% between 2012 and 2021.
Over the course of 60 years, RWE’s site at Pembroke in south-west Wales has completely transformed: from firstly hosting an oil-fired power station in the 1960s, to transitioning later in the 2010s to a highly efficient natural gas-fired power station that continues to produce the lowest CO2 intensity power of any gas plant in the UK. Looking to the future, RWE’s pathway to carbon neutrality will require wide-scale investment in the decarbonisation technologies. These will be brought together in a new initiative: ‘The Pembroke Net Zero Centre’.
RWE is a world leader in renewables, a market leader in the development of offshore wind and a key driver of the global energy transition. In turn, Pembroke is looking to continue its transformation as part of a decarbonisation hub under the title of the PNZC, linking-up with new innovative technologies needed for a low carbon future, including hydrogen production, Carbon Capture and Storage and floating offshore wind.
The PNZC will bring together all areas of the company’s decarbonisation expertise, including innovation, offshore wind, power engineering, trading and the development/operation of highly technical plants.
PNZC will develop and implement three distinctive pillars:
The Pembroke Net Zero Centre will help unlock the route to Net Zero in Wales, and help secure the future of existing industry, businesses and jobs, as well as providing a significant boost to the local economy. Read more about the economic benefits in this report.
The initiative draws on a dedicated team of experts. They will work with hundreds of technicians, planners and engineers across RWE’s UK and international businesses, looking at the deployment of state-of-the-art technologies to help decarbonise South Wales and support Wales and the UK to reach net zero.
Early analysis by Cardiff Business School indicates that PNZC could support up to around 1,500-2,200 Welsh jobs per annum during construction and boost regional Gross Value Added (GVA) by up to £70-100m p.a. During operation, by 2040 per annum PNZC could support c. 270-340 Welsh jobs and add £28-35m GVA to the regional economy. This is in addition to the 270 Welsh jobs and £28m GVA supported by the existing Pembroke Power Station in the longer-term.