The company is one of only a handful of UK companies operating commercial hydrogen production facilities in order to build expertise and pave the way for future developments. Since March 2023, Pioneer 1 has been operational in South Wales with the hydrogen produced used in trials for fleets and transport, alongside various projects for customers across the UK.
Over the past year, Protium has gained important insights and experience in running a hydrogen plant alongside developing the hydrogen value chain and working with equipment manufacturers.
Pioneer 1 has also provided a blueprint for future projects and shaped and informed the wider market in the UK.
“We are proud of our achievements and excited about the future” said Jon Constable, Protium’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our proven capability means that we can develop and progress projects at pace for customers and we look forward to building demand across multiple sectors. We have also invested in digital technologies that will enable continuous improvement in how we design, optimise, and operate our hydrogen plants in the future.”
In Q4 2024, Protium will open its second hydrogen production facility, making it the only company in the UK with two operational facilities producing commercially available hydrogen from renewables.
Scaling up production to meet the demand seeded by Pioneer 1, the new facility will feature a 2.5 MW electrolyser. Ten times larger than Pioneer 1, this facility will reduce carbon emissions by 156,000 tonnes annually – the equivalent of removing 37,000 cars from UK roads.
“Green hydrogen will be a critical part of the energy mix in helping the UK achieve its target of zero emissions by 2050” added Chris Jackson, Chief Executive of Protium. “However, the nascent stage of the hydrogen sector makes projects like Pioneer 1 crucial for cultivating the necessary experience, skills, and market demand necessary for the sector’s growth. The UK must start this journey now than waiting on future projects.”
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