EnergyPathways and Hycamite advance low‑carbon hydrogen and graphite plant at Port of Barrow
- Planned plant at Port‑of‑Barrow: 20,000 t/year hydrogen and ~60,000 t/year high‑quality graphite.
- Hycamite's methane‑decomposition tech produces low‑carbon hydrogen and battery‑grade graphite confirmed by Polaris Battery Labs.
- EnergyPathways says hydrogen costs will be competitive with blue H2 (with CCS) and lower than UK electrolysis‑based green H2.
- MESH LDES project targets 300 MW / 55 GWh / >100 hours storage; hydrogen production aimed for 2029–2030 subject to approvals and funding.
Project scope
EnergyPathways (EPP) and Hycamite are evaluating a production complex at ABP's Port‑of‑Barrow comprising a hydrogen plant with 20,000 t/yr capacity and a graphite plant of about 60,000 t/yr, to be integrated into EPP's MESH long‑duration energy storage project.
Technology and product quality
Hycamite's proprietary methane decomposition route produces low‑carbon hydrogen and solid carbon products including battery‑grade graphite made from natural gas; Polaris Battery Labs has confirmed the high quality of Hycamite's battery graphite.
Market, costs and uses
EPP estimates hydrogen production costs will be competitive with blue hydrogen using CO2 capture and lower than UK electrolysis‑based green hydrogen. EPP is also assessing producing ammonia by mixing produced hydrogen with nitrogen for the fertilizer market, and plans to sell graphite into high‑value export markets and energy‑transition supply chains.
MESH context, timing and funding
MESH is designed as the UK’s largest LDES at 300 MW / 55 GWh / over 100 hours to use surplus wind power; hydrogen operations are targeted to start in 2029–2030, subject to political decisions, approvals and funding. EPP intends to seek UK Critical Minerals Accelerator support for graphite commercialisation.
Source: Hycamite