NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE, UK – Plans for the Keadby Next Generation Power Station, a pioneering 900MW hydrogen-fired facility proposed by SSE Thermal and Equinor, have moved to the crucial examination stage after its Development Consent Order (DCO) application was accepted by the Planning Inspectorate. This significant milestone marks the first time a power station designed to operate on hydrogen, or a blend with natural gas, has reached this advanced phase in the UK’s planning process for nationally significant infrastructure projects.
The proposed power station, located at the south Humber estuary in North Lincolnshire, aims to play a pivotal role in the decarbonisation of power generation and drive the green industrial revolution within the Humber region. If approved, the facility could be operational by 2030.
Advancing Towards a Hydrogen-Powered Future
The acceptance of the DCO application by the Planning Inspectorate in August 2025 initiates a detailed examination process. Due to the project’s national significance, the ultimate decision on granting planning consent will rest with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, rather than the local council.
Strategic Importance of Keadby Next Generation
SSE and Equinor envision the Keadby Next Generation Power Station as a cornerstone for the UK’s long-term decarbonisation efforts. The 900MW facility is engineered to run on hydrogen, offering a low-carbon alternative to traditional natural gas power generation. Crucially, it will also be capable of operating on natural gas or a blend of hydrogen and natural gas until a commercially viable supply of 100% hydrogen becomes available to the site.
Kelly De Azevedo Dent, SSE Thermal’s Director of Development, highlighted the project’s potential to drive substantial investment in the Humber region and create hundreds of high-quality local jobs. Construction alone is projected to generate approximately 800 full-time positions at the site and within the wider supply chain.
The Keadby Site: A Legacy of Energy Innovation
The Keadby site has a long history in UK energy production, having operated for nearly 75 years and evolving from a coal-fired power station to hosting Europe’s most efficient gas plant, Keadby 2. The area is also home to England’s largest onshore wind farm and has existing planning consent for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) equipped power station, also in partnership with Equinor. This rich energy infrastructure positions Keadby as an ideal location for pioneering hydrogen technology.
The Broader Hydrogen Landscape in the UK
The Keadby project is part of a wider push across Scotland and the UK to develop green hydrogen capabilities and integrate them into the energy mix.
Green Hydrogen for Glasgow Project
Separately, the “Green Hydrogen for Glasgow” project, led by ScottishPower, BOC, and ITM Power, is progressing with plans for a green hydrogen production facility at the Whitelee Wind Farm, the UK’s largest onshore wind farm, near Glasgow. This initiative aims to house the UK’s largest electrolyser, with an initial 10MW capacity, later expanding to 20MW, capable of producing up to 8 tonnes of green hydrogen per day. The project received £9.4 million in UK government funding in November 2021 for its first phase and has been securing hazardous substance consent more recently in July 2025. It is designed to supply zero-carbon fuel for transport providers and support Glasgow’s ambition to become a net-zero city by 2030.
Other Scottish Hydrogen Developments
Other significant projects in Scotland include the Argyll Hydrogen Hub in Oban, which secured planning approval in May 2024 to establish a green hydrogen production and distribution centre. Green Cat Hydrogen is also proposing a new facility beside the former Chapelcross nuclear power plant in Dumfries and Galloway, which could produce over 4,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year.
What Happens Next for Keadby?
With the DCO application now accepted, the Keadby Next Generation Power Station project will undergo a thorough examination by the Planning Inspectorate. This process involves detailed scrutiny of the plans, environmental impacts, and public consultations. Should it receive approval, the 900MW hydrogen-fired power station will mark a significant step forward in the global transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
