GeoPura to Supply Record Volume of Green Hydrogen for Lower Thames Crossing

British hydrogen specialist GeoPura has been selected to supply what is being described as the largest volume of green hydrogen ever produced for a UK construction project.

The hydrogen will power elements of National Highways’ Lower Thames Crossing scheme, which is aiming to become the first major UK infrastructure project to achieve carbon-neutral construction.

A central part of that ambition is the replacement of diesel-powered equipment with hydrogen, electric and other low-carbon alternatives. When used in fuel cells, hydrogen produces only water as a by-product, offering significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality for site workers and nearby communities.

Driving Decarbonisation in Construction

The Lower Thames Crossing project is positioning itself as a test case for decarbonising large-scale infrastructure delivery. Construction remains heavily reliant on diesel-powered plant and generators, making fuel substitution one of the most challenging aspects of reducing embodied carbon.

By deploying green hydrogen at scale, National Highways hopes to demonstrate that alternative fuels can be integrated into major civil engineering programmes without compromising performance or reliability.

Matt Palmer, Executive Director for the Lower Thames Crossing, said:

“Today we’ve given the green light to green hydrogen. By replacing diesel with home grown hydrogen, we’re not only reducing our own carbon footprint but also helping clean up the construction sector. National Highways is supporting new jobs and skills that will put British businesses and people at the forefront of the growing clean energy sector.”

Supporting the UK’s Hydrogen Ambitions

The partnership also aligns with the Government’s broader industrial strategy, which identifies hydrogen as a key component of the UK’s transition to greater energy security and reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Expanding domestic hydrogen production capacity is viewed as central to building resilience in the energy system while stimulating economic growth. The emerging green energy sector is projected to support more than 400,000 jobs and contribute over £7 billion to the UK economy by 2030.

Industry Minister Chris McDonald said the collaboration demonstrates how clean energy can support large infrastructure schemes.

“GeoPura and the Lower Thames Crossing collaboration is proof that clean energy goes hand-in-hand with major British infrastructure projects,” he said.

“Hydrogen has a key role to play in our industrial strategy, and from Nottinghamshire to Kent, our first flagship hydrogen projects will sustainably power projects up and down the country.”

A Milestone for Green Hydrogen in Infrastructure

While hydrogen has been trialled on construction sites before, the scale of deployment on the Lower Thames Crossing marks a significant step forward for the technology’s use in heavy infrastructure.

If successful, the model could provide a blueprint for other nationally significant infrastructure projects seeking to reduce emissions during delivery, not just in operation.

For GeoPura, the contract represents a landmark moment in scaling green hydrogen production for mainstream construction use — and signals growing confidence in hydrogen’s role within the UK’s net-zero transition.