Pipeline operator Wales & West Utilities has announced plans to build a new dedicated hydrogen pipeline to help industrial businesses in North East Wales transition to cleaner energy. 

The project, dubbed HyLine Gogledd, is a key component of a broader initiative to reduce carbon emissions and support long-term economic growth in the region.

Proposed to supply hydrogen to energy-intensive industries from Deeside to Wrexham, which currently account for 55% of the region’s energy demand, the HyLine Gogledd project is a crucial part of the North East Wales Industrial Decarbonisation (NEWID) Cluster, which aims to transform emissions-intensive sites into a hub for clean energy.

Matt Hindle, Head of Net Zero & Sustainability at Wales & West Utilities, emphasized the pipeline's potential to attract future business investment. 

"HyLine Gogledd is an exciting step forward in mapping low-carbon hydrogen delivery to North East Wales, offering a diversity of choice to energy-intensive industries," Matt Hindle, Head of Net Zero & Sustainability at Wales & West Utilities said, emphasizing the pipeline's potential to attract future business investment. 

The pipeline will also support the HyNet cluster in Northwest England, a project that aims to save more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. 

Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, praised the collaborative effort, stating that "It's good to see HyLine Gogledd working collaboratively with a range of partners to support the decarbonisation of industry in North East Wales."

Skates added that the decarbonization projects will protect jobs and make North Wales a sustainable location for future investment.

Ben Burggraaf, CEO of Net Zero Industry Wales, also expressed his support for the pipeline project, adding that it has the potential to "transform North East Wales into a clean energy hub, helping industry decarbonise, whilst safeguarding jobs and economic resilience."

With hydrogen being a greener alternative to natural gas, as it produces no carbon emissions at the point of use, it is emerging as the preferred alternative fuel for industries seeking to meet their climate goals.