Wood awarded consenting and FEED contracts for the UK’s first hydrogen distribution pipeline infrastructure

Wood has been awarded the consenting and environmental assessment and front-end engineering design (FEED) contracts for Cadent’s HyNet North West, an innovative project that aims to unlock a lower carbon economy for the North West of England and North Wales.

The industry-leading HyNet North West project has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 10 million tonnes a year by 2030 – the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road.

From 2025, the project will produce, store, and distribute hydrogen, as well as capture and store carbon from industry in the North West of England and North Wales. It will use state-of-the-art technology to build new energy infrastructure whilst also upgrading and reusing existing infrastructure currently involved in fossil fuel production.

As part of the scope of work, a multidisciplinary Wood team will lead the design, consenting and consultation of a new 85km hydrogen pipeline and above-ground installations.

Wood will also provide land rights consultation and engagement services to support the application for consent. System modelling and design will benefit from the company's specialised and field proven H₂ modelling technology Virtuoso.

Josh Carmichael, Vice President of Hydrogen at Wood, said: “We are delighted to be working with Cadent on HyNet North West. Together with our clients, we’re driving hydrogen production and distribution at pace and at an industrial scale as one of the mission-critical pathways to a more sustainable future. Industries and clusters will be key to catalysing the hydrogen industry in the UK, and we are excited to be a part of this leading project.

“This first-of-its-kind project will help meet the challenge of reducing CO₂ emissions from industry, providing fuel for our transport as well as heating for our homes and businesses, and could really put the region at the forefront of the UK’s drive to reaching net-zero by 2050.”

As a leader in hydrogen production technology, Wood has been supplying hydrogen production units globally for more than 60 years. With experience in carbon capture and storage, renewable power and pipelines for distribution, the company is well positioned to support the opportunities of a clean hydrogen energy system.