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Wales & West Utilities has announced plans for a dedicated hydrogen pipeline in North Wales to support cleaner energy ambitions for business and industry across the region.

The proposed pipeline, HyLine Gogledd, would help bring hydrogen to the energy-intensive industries that account for 55 per cent of energy demand in the region from Deeside to Wrexham.

The pipeline will help transform the industrial landscape in the area, offering an alternative low-carbon choice for powering business and industry, whilst supporting long-term economic growth and jobs for the future.

Hydrogen is considered a greener alternative to natural gas as it provides energy in the same way but does not produce carbon emissions at the point of use.

Phase one of HyLine Gogledd demonstrates the viability of the pipeline network within the North East Wales Industrial Decarbonisation (NEWID) Cluster, building on the foundations laid by the DESNZ-funded NEWID Cluster Plan launched earlier this year.

The pipeline and Cluster Plan together assess how hydrogen can be used across North East Wales to replace natural gas in industrial processes, based on hubs at Deeside and Wrexham. It also outlines the private and public funding required and the commitment and actions needed to achieve net zero industrial emissions in North East Wales by 2050. Hyline Gogledd is set to be a cornerstone in delivering on these ambitions.

The NEWID Cluster is led by Net Zero Industry Wales, in collaboration with a host of partners, including Wales & West Utilities. It aims to address the unique challenges of dispersed industrial sites and to transform emissions-intensive industries into a clean energy hub, spearheading the UK’s industrial decarbonisation efforts.

HyLine Gogledd will also support developments in the HyNet cluster. HyNet, which is a track one industrial cluster in the North West of England, aims to save more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year, equivalent to taking more than 600,000 cars off the road. The project estimates it can create 6,000 local jobs and generate £17bn in value for the local economy.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates MS, said:

“It’s good to see HyLine Gogledd working collaboratively with a range of partners to support the decarbonisation of industry in North East Wales, protecting jobs, and making North Wales a sustainable location for future investment.”

Wales & West Utilities Head of Net Zero & Sustainability, Matt Hindle, said:

“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 and other energy users. With almost 3,000 industrial customers in the region, this project will be pivotal in making the area an attractive place for businesses in the future.

“We are committed to helping customers find the best solutions to decarbonise, with the least possible disruption. This project will explore the feasibility of using new and existing infrastructure to deliver cost-effective options.”

Supporting the announcement, CEO of Net Zero Industry Wales Ben Burggraaf, said:

“The proposed pipeline has the potential to transform North East Wales into a clean energy hub, helping industry decarbonise, whilst safeguarding jobs and economic resilience — in the region and wider Wales.

“Net Zero Industry Wales is dedicated to empowering Welsh industry with the tools, partnerships, and innovation needed to accelerate the transition. The NEWID Cluster is already demonstrating the power of collaboration, and HyLine Gogledd is another important piece in the puzzle. It will further position Wales at the forefront of industrial decarbonisation for a sustainable and prosperous future."