Special meeting set for green hydrogen project

A major scheme to develop a green hydrogen production facility in Bridgend will go before planners later this week, with a special meeting recommended to take place.Land at Brynmenyn and Bryncethin has been earmarked by Marubeni Europower for the HyBont project.The green hydrogen production and refuelling facility at Brynmenyn Industrial Estate would support Bridgend Council’s Net Zero strategy. The development would provide low carbon fuel that can be used locally, such as for refuse collection vehicles and buses.A planning application for the project was submitted earlier this year.Now a report for Bridgend County Borough Council’s development control committee has made a recommendation that it should hold a special meeting to consider the application.The report said the Local Planning Authority is currently processing the application.The document said that although, at this stage, there is no set date for when the application will be presented to the development control committee, the scale of the development and the level of public objection would “justify” members considering the proposal at a special meeting.It added, that, as such, members must agree to the special meeting in advance.George Dodd, senior vice-president at Marubeni Europower, said previously: “We would like to thank everyone who came along to our consultation and information events to find out more about the proposals and discuss them with members of the project team. Green hydrogen has been identified as a key solution to decarbonise the energy system, and the HyBont project would contribute to the Council and Government’s aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”The development will also bring economic benefits to the local community, creating jobs and promoting sustainable growth in the region.”