PLANS to build a controversial new hydrogen energy facility in Bridgend have been paused after the Health and Safety Executive advised against them on safety grounds.
The proposals to develop a new hydrogen production facility and solar energy scheme across two sites in Bryncethin and Brynmenyn have been put forward by developers at Marubeni Europower Ltd, with plans for hydrogen storage, electrolysers and a hydrogen refuelling station to be built there.
The plans have led to major backlash from residents across Bridgend with protests even held outside the council offices on Angel Street due to what they claimed was a lack of clarity and safety concerns with the facility’s proximity to local housing in the village of Bryncethin.
Now it has been revealed that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) submitted a letter to Bridgend Council’s planning committee in October 2024, just a day before plans for the Hybont hydrogen project were set to be decided on.
In it the national regulator advised against granting Hazardous Substances Consent for the site on the grounds of safety, concluding that there were risks to the surrounding population.
A section of the letter read: “On the basis of this assessment, HSE have concluded that the risks to the surrounding population arising
from the proposed operation(s) are sufficiently high to justify advising against the granting of Hazardous Substances Consent on grounds of safety.”
A spokesperson for the scheme has since responded to the feedback saying: “HSE has clarified that this is specifically regarding the arrangement and management of ‘moveable storage containers’ on the site – in this case, this relates to tube-trailer lorries that will transport hydrogen off the site to customers.”
They went on to say that the development and planning application processes for the scheme will now “remain paused” while these issues are being considered and addressed.
They added: “Safety remains at the core of this project. Therefore, we welcome this important feedback and we will be continuing to work with HSE and BCBC to ensure HyBont is delivered as an industry leading facility.”
The long-running saga was raised at a recent Bridgend full council meeting in November where council leader John Spanswick said he wouldn’t apologise for press releases warning of misinformation around the project while the planning application was still live.
