From Blueprint to Reality 2026

Specific financing benefits enjoyed by the cluster are summarized in Table 4. CLUSTER BENEFIT Garner institutional support from government Early-stage public funding from UKRI catalysed significant investment from private organizations involved in the cluster. UKRI’s Industrial Decarbonization Challenge provided £58 million in grants to projects in Humber, matched by £78 million from project developers. The UK’s Advanced Fuels Fund, a government initiative dedicated to scaling-up production of low-carbon fuels, is also providing grant support for FOAK commercial and demonstration-scale projects in the UK. The third window of awards in July 2025 saw five Humber-based organiza- tions receive funding out of the total 17 grants awarded. CLUSTER BENEFIT Centralize project coordination From a governance perspective, the presence of two “sub-clusters” within the Humber can create challenges when trying to optimize financing. Such complexity prompted the creation of the Humber Energy Board in 2024 to coordinate pan-cluster strategy and infrastructure questions across the distinct projects. CLUSTER BENEFIT Aggregate demand & supply In 2024, H2ub, a hydrogen production plant being developed by Uniper, signed a collaboration agreement with Phillips 66 Limited to supply its Humber refinery with green hydrogen produced via electrolysis. CLUSTER BENEFIT Decrease costs For Viking CCS, an existing subsea pipeline is being upgraded to transport CO2 to an offshore storage site, while a new onshore pipeline will be built to transport CO2 captured by industrial emitters. Nearby port infrastructure provides the option for import by ship. CLUSTER BENEFIT Promote innovation & knowledge sharing Close collaboration with Humber’s university and college network ensures upcoming talent is being equipped with the skills required to develop low-carbon technology. Industrial representatives sit on cross-collaborative bodies like the Humber Energy Board and the Construction Industry Trading Board to communicate emerging skills gaps.Humber – financing benefits TABLE 4 Like HyNet, Humber also benefits from the UK’s regulatory approach to developing low-carbon industrial clusters. Paired with close collaboration across NEP and NTZP , a joint £8 billion financing package was secured from 21 commercial banks. Given the links between the projects and the shared risks, several banks lent money across both deals. Humber also benefits from the UK’s regulatory approach to low- carbon industrial clusters, enabling a joint £8 billion financing package from 21 banks. From Blueprint to Reality: A Stronger Business Case for Shared Energy Infrastructure 24