HSE rejects controversial hydrogen plant on safety grounds

A proposal for a hydrogen plant near homes and businesses in the Welsh town of Bridgend has hit a major hurdle due to safety concerns raised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Plans to sell the land in Brynmenyn Industrial Estate for around £1 million to Cardiff Capital Region (CCR), a coalition of 10 local authorities, local businesses, and other stakeholders, was initially intended by Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC). The project, involving the Japanese Marubeni Corporation, aims to develop hydrogen as a clean energy source.

However, the HSE rejected an application for Hazardous Substances Consent (HAZ) on safety grounds, which puts the future of the proposal in jeopardy. The hydrogen plant's proximity to residential and business areas has raised concerns about potential safety risks. According to reports, the HSE experienced an explosion when testing the safety related to the ignition of a hydrogen leak that occurred during refuelling, underscoring hydrogen's low ignition threshold and significant safety risks of storing five tonnes of hydrogen just 40 metres from homes and businesses.

A hydrogen explosion in Norway that collapsed the infrastructure for hydrogen cars, and a similar accident in California, where a hydrogen bus exploded during refuelling, have been cited as examples of the dangers of locating a hydrogen plant in such close proximity to the surrounding population.

The BCBC published the HSE’s response to the application for Hazardous Substances Consent (HAZ) at the proposed site. However, concerns remain that the Council may go against the HSE’s advice and  forge ahead with the plant, with construction due to begin next autumn.