Planning consent granted for Clachaig Glen Wind Farm, paving the way for further renewable energy growth in Argyll & Bute
12.11.2024
Following a public consultation and extensive stakeholder engagement, RWE is pleased to announce the RWE Pembroke Green Hydrogen Project has achieved a significant milestone in its development.
The Planning Committee at Pembrokeshire County Council has recommended that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Planning to approve the application for the development of a new green hydrogen facility in Pembroke subject to: planning conditions and ratification of the Habitat Regulations Assessment by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
This recommendation marks a significant endorsement of the project, demonstrating the Council’s support for a green hydrogen facility that will contribute to South Wales’ sustainability goals by reducing local industrial emissions. The plant will be located on RWE’s site, west of Pembroke Power Station, benefitting from an established infrastructure and minimising visual impact on nearby communities.
The RWE Pembroke Green Hydrogen Project proposes a 100-110MWe electrolysis plant capable of producing approximately two metric tonnes of green hydrogen per hour. By displacing fossil fuels, the plant is expected to reduce local CO2 emissions by approximately 93,000 tonnes per year—the equivalent of removing 18,600 cars from the road.
This recommendation is a major step towards the delivery of a Green Hydrogen plant for the region, and essential before consideration of a financial investment decision, in addition to gaining Government funding.
“We are absolutely delighted by this recomendation from the Planning Committee,” said Richard Little, Pembroke Net Zero Centre Director. “We are fully committed to meeting all planning conditions required to reach a final decision, and we look forward to progressing this major milestone in Wales’ path to a sustainable future.
commented on the wider vision for the site he added: “Green hydrogen generation is just the beginning of our low-carbon initiatives as part of the PNZC which includes battery solutions and Carbon Capture. As we look to the future of South Wales’ industrial sector, we need solutions like green hydrogen to ensure cleaner operations, reduce emissions, and safeguard local jobs. This project will play a unique role in achieving Wales’ net-zero goals and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.”
RWE’s ambitions for Pembroke Net Zero Centre will build on Pembrokeshire’s local energy heritage, safeguarding existing jobs at the site, while delivering a significant local economic investment and creating new jobs throughout construction and operation.
RWE is the largest power producer in the UK, and a leading renewable generator with a diverse operational generation portfolio of onshore wind, offshore wind, hydro, biomass and gas. RWE is developing ~1GWe hydrogen opportunities across the UK. and is targeting 2GW of green hydrogen electrolyser capacity in its core markets by 2030.