Plug and Carlton Power: Barrow Green Hydrogen Achieves FID, Bringing Industrial-Scale Hydrogen to the UK

Reaching a Final Investment Decision (FID) marks one of the most important milestones in the development of any major energy infrastructure project. It signals the transition from planning to execution, with financing, commercial agreements, technology, and project partners fully aligned.

That makes the 30 MW Barrow Green Hydrogen project reaching FID a significant achievement for Plug, its partners, and the continued growth of the UK's green hydrogen sector.

Plug will supply 30 MW of its GenEco™ Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers to the Barrow Green Hydrogen project in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, supporting one of the UK's leading industrial decarbonization initiatives as it moves into construction.

For the hydrogen industry, projects reaching FID are especially meaningful. They demonstrate that the business case has been validated, financing has been secured, renewable power arrangements are in place, industrial demand has been confirmed, and construction is ready to begin.

Barrow's progress reflects the increasing momentum behind large-scale green hydrogen deployment and growing confidence in Plug's electrolyzer technology and project execution capabilities.

The project is being developed by Green Hydrogen Energy Company (GHECO), the joint venture between Schroders Greencoat and Carlton Power.

Once operational, the facility is expected to produce approximately 100 GWh of green hydrogen annually using renewable electricity. The hydrogen will be supplied to Kimberly-Clark's manufacturing facility in Barrow-in-Furness, where well-known consumer products including Andrex® and Kleenex® are produced.

By replacing a significant portion of natural gas with green hydrogen, the project is expected to reduce the site's natural gas consumption by up to 50%, avoiding approximately 18,300 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.

Barrow is also the first of GHECO's three Plug-supported hydrogen projects to reach execution, establishing an important benchmark for future green hydrogen developments across the UK.

Achieving FID confirms that the essential project components are in place:

• Financing has been secured.

• Commercial agreements have been finalized.

• Long-term hydrogen demand has been established.

• Renewable electricity supply has been contracted.

• Technology partners have been selected.

• Construction and project execution can begin.

Each project that reaches this milestone strengthens confidence in the long-term commercial viability of green hydrogen and helps accelerate broader market adoption.

The Barrow project brings together the critical elements required for successful hydrogen deployment:

• Long-term industrial demand from Kimberly-Clark.

• Renewable electricity supplied through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with SEFE.

• UK Government support through Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1).

• Plug's proven GenEco PEM electrolyzer technology.

Together, these components provide a strong foundation for reliable, low-carbon hydrogen production at industrial scale.