A $270 million (£200 million) private investment will fund the UK’s first large-scale hydrogen-from-waste facility at the Tilbury Tax Site within Thames Freeport, scheduled to begin operations by 2028.
Announced by London Thames Hydrogen, the project is part of a broader $1.35 billion hydrogen corridor initiative to decarbonize road transport across the UK.
The Tilbury plant, developed by Chinook Hydrogen and backed by Middle Eastern investors, will convert non-recyclable waste into clean hydrogen, producing up to 12 tonnes per day.
The process will meet the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard and remove over 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually.
The advanced modular gasification technology used by Chinook will eliminate methane emissions from landfill and reduce supply-chain carbon footprints.
“By converting non-recyclable waste into clean hydrogen, we tackle the twin challenges of waste and decarbonization in one stroke,” Dr Rifat Chalabi, Executive Chairman of Chinook Hydrogen, said.
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The site will create more than 150 skilled jobs in engineering, cleantech, logistics, and operations.
It is designed with minimal on-site hydrogen storage to remain outside Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations, simplifying planning and permitting.
This new facility marks the first step in a national network of green hydrogen hubs, including a sister site in Doncaster.
That location will feature a 5-tonne-per-day hydrogen output, along with hydrogen refueling stations and off-grid electric vehicle (EV) superchargers for commercial and passenger vehicles.
Baroness Gustafsson, Minister for Investment, welcomed the announcement, stating: “The UK is a world leader in clean energy… this investment will not only deliver cutting-edge low carbon hydrogen technology but create 150 new skilled jobs.
The project showcases how Freeports can act as catalysts for clean industrial growth, global investment, and regional job creation—advancing the UK’s net-zero and energy security goals.
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