Magna Science Adventure Centre set to become home to pioneering £40m green hydrogen plant that will help heat site

It is proposed that an unused 40,000 sq ft building on the site known as the ‘Dark Space’ would be turned into a specialist facility for turning more than 10,000 tonnes of non-recyclable plastic into hydrogen fuel each year. The fuel would then be used by customers such as local councils for powering eco-friendly vehicles such as buses and rubbish trucks.

The plant, designed by American company Fusion One, is due to be the first of its kind in Europe.

Ken Smithers, a director of Newton Hydrogen, told The Yorkshire Post that it is hoped construction can begin later this year if planning permission is granted, with the site operational from 2025.

Its sister company Newton Energi was granted planning permission last year for the creation of a battery energy storage facility on land adjacent to Magna last year.

He said the hydrogen production plant will create around 35 permanent jobs and be an important milestone for Rotherham.

"For Rotherham it would be the first of its kind in Europe. For the last 150 years we have been using diesel and petrol. We are now looking to change 150 years of industrial tradition in less than two lifetimes. In the Western world we are looking to abolish fossil fuels in two lifetimes and replace it with something else.

"Rotherham can showcase this to other councils and private business. We hope to have this an excellence centre for aspiring engineers where they can learn and develop in the field of hydrogen production.”

The process would generate excess heat which would be used to help warm the existing public exhibition spaces used by Magna, while Mr Smithers said the charity trust will also benefit from his company leasing the space for the facility.

"It gives them free energy because we will pick up their energy costs. We do generate some waste heat that will be pumped into the exhibition 24/7. We will be raising the temperature of the whole exhibition completely. We will be reducing their heating value and generating a rent value from us as well. It is going to be putting well over £250,000 into the charity’s coffers, helping to secure their future.”

Stuart Ballard, Magna education manager, said the scheme has the potential to be a “huge help” with its energy bills.

He added there are hopes there could be some form of public exhibition about the new facility once it is up and running.

“At Magna it is really important to showcase new technology and in this case it is technology helping to play a part in addressing climate change.”

Mr Smithers said initial discussions have already begun with local authority leaders in South and North Yorkshire about the prospect of them utilising some of the hydrogen that will be produced.

He said: "Many local authorities already have hydrogen-fuelled buses, especially London and Aberdeen who are the leaders.

"We are in discussion with South and North Yorkshire to utilise the hydrogen that is going to be produced on their doorstep. We are hoping they are going to take up this opportunity and start to realise they can be a green borough and operate public services on hydrogen fuel.”