GeoPura and Forth Ports have formalized an agreement to establish green hydrogen production at the Port of Tilbury, marking a significant step in the decarbonization of one of the UK's most important logistics hubs. The project is supported by USD 2.65 million in seed capital from Thames Freeport and will enable on-site generation of low-carbon hydrogen to decarbonize port operations and surrounding industrial activities.

The initiative positions Tilbury among the first major British ports to host commercial-scale hydrogen production for heavy industrial use, starting this year. The project demonstrates how Thames Freeport is using targeted public investment to support innovation in live operational environments, helping businesses adopt new technologies and accelerate decarbonization across logistics and industrial activity.

Project Specifications and Timeline

Under a 10-year agreement with an option to extend, GeoPura is developing an initial 1MW low-carbon hydrogen production plant at Tilbury. The facility will generate hydrogen via electrolysis, which is planned to be powered by on-site solar panels, creating a secure, locally produced supply of zero-emission fuel for port operations and the wider Thames Estuary.

The project will bring significant investment and skilled green jobs, supporting the skills transition and long-term capability in hydrogen production to the area. By combining renewable electricity, electrolysis, and practical end-use applications at Tilbury, GeoPura, and the Port, we are creating a scalable model for industrial decarbonization.

Strategic Context and Government Goals

The UK Government has a goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Transportation accounts for over a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions, including heavy goods vehicles and non-road mobile machinery. As a major port operator, Forth Ports is looking for new and innovative sustainable solutions to ensure effective energy transition as it works towards its goal to become net zero by 2042.

Forth Ports has a track record of delivering market-leading solutions across low-carbon logistics, sustainable construction, and on-site power generation as it pursues its intentionally ambitious goal of becoming a net-zero carbon emissions operation by 2042.

Lower Thames Crossing Contract and Company Background

The decision to establish the facility comes after GeoPura was awarded the contract to supply 2,500 tonnes of hydrogen to the Lower Thames Crossing, one of the UK's most significant infrastructure schemes. The new facility will support the project's goal of becoming the first major project in the UK to be carbon neutral in construction by replacing over 12 million liters of diesel and strengthening the resilience of its supply chain by providing a secure, strategically located source of clean fuel to support construction activity at scale. GeoPura brings established production and delivery capability to the project.

Through its involvement in HyMarnham Power, the company is already developing large-scale low-carbon hydrogen production in the UK, alongside its growing fleet of hydrogen power units deployed across construction, infrastructure, and broadcast projects nationwide. Andrew Cunningham, Chief Executive Officer of GeoPura, said the Tilbury project builds on the company's track record of repurposing strategic industrial sites to produce low-carbon fuel, following on from their work at HyMarnham Power, where they are transforming a former coal-fired power station into a large-scale low-carbon hydrogen production site. He noted that Tilbury is another powerful example of how the UK can use its existing industrial infrastructure to produce renewable fuels for the future.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The project will support skilled green jobs in engineering and operations, stimulate the regional hydrogen supply chain, and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. This will establish Tilbury as a testbed for the use of low-carbon fuels in heavy industry. David Webster, Regional Director at Tilbury, commented that Forth Ports is excited to be working with the GeoPura team to deliver green hydrogen generation, which represents another significant step on their journey toward becoming a net-zero carbon emissions operation by 2042.

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