London Thames Hydrogen has confirmed a £200 million private-sector investment to build a hydrogen-from-waste facility at Thames Freeport. The project is described as a significant advance in the UK’s net-zero transition. The company claims it as a milestone in developing clean fuel for transport and industrial applications.
The facility will be located at the Tilbury tax site within Thames Freeport, but not on land belonging to either of the freeport’s two major ports – Tilbury or London Gateway. The development forms the first stage of a planned £1 billion “hydrogen corridor” connecting multiple UK hydrogen production sites, aimed at nationwide road transport decarbonisation.
Boost for marine and port decarbonisation
Although the plant will primarily serve heavy goods vehicle refuelling, hydrogen is expected to play a growing role in marine and port operations. Hydrogen-derived fuels such as ammonia are increasingly viewed as viable low-carbon options for vessels operating on inland and coastal trades in England and beyond. At present, there is no large-scale bunkering of ammonia within the Freeport.
“By converting non-recyclable waste into clean hydrogen, we tackle the twin challenges of waste and decarbonisation in one stroke,” said Dr Rifat Chalabi, executive chairman of Chinook Hydrogen. “Thames Freeport provides the ideal launchpad for this scalable solution to power sustainable industrial growth across the UK.”
Turning waste into clean energy
Delivered by Chinook Hydrogen and backed by Middle Eastern investment, the plant will use patented modular gasification technology to produce up to 12 tonnes of hydrogen per day, says the company. The products are intended to meet the UK Low-Carbon Hydrogen Standard. Residual waste otherwise destined for landfill will be converted into fuel. That helps address a significant problem in the UK – the lack of available landfill sites and an aversion to the practice.
The industrial process is expected to remove more than 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. That is a politically significant volume, in line with the UK government’s ambitions for a net-zero economy by 2050. In the shorter term, the project is expected to create over 150 skilled jobs in engineering, operations, logistics and cleantech. The process eliminates landfill methane and reduces supply chain emissions, contributing to wider decarbonisation goals in transport and industry.
Strategic freeport location and fast-tracked approvals
Thames Freeport is one of the UK’s eight designated freeports, encompassing the ports of Tilbury and London Gateway, plus the vast industrial site that was once the Ford Dagenham manufacturing plant. It is designed to attract investment through tax incentives and simplified customs procedures, encouraging manufacturing, logistics and clean energy projects. Rt Hon Ruth Kelly, chair of Thames Freeport, said: “This is the kind of strategic, future-focused investment our Freeport Strategy sets out to attract. Chinook’s commitment shows how freeports can spark new industries, unlock global capital and build a greener, more resilient UK economy.”
The Tilbury hydrogen plant is engineered with minimal on-site hydrogen storage to remain outside COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) regulations, enabling a streamlined planning and approvals process. The facility is due to be operational by 2028. Baroness Gustafsson CBE, the minister for investment, said: “The UK is a world leader in clean energy, and it’s great to see this investment will not only deliver cutting-edge low-carbon hydrogen technology but create 150 new skilled jobs. Thames Freeport provides the perfect environment for this initiative to get started.”