Protium breaks ground on second South Wales hydrogen project
Protium breaks ground on second South Wales hydrogen project
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Green hydrogen energy company Protium has entered the advanced stages of construction on its second production facility in South Wales, marking another major step toward scaling the UK’s hydrogen economy.
The new site, known as Pioneer 2, will deliver one of the largest electrolysers in Wales and feature the UK’s largest installed PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) system. Once operational, it will be capable of producing up to one tonne of green hydrogen per day.
Building on the success of the company’s Pioneer 1 facility—also located in South Wales—the new project strengthens Protium’s growing network of green hydrogen assets.
Together, they are designed to decarbonise the UK’s hardest-to-electrify sectors, including heavy transport, logistics, off-grid power, and energy-intensive industries.
The system at Pioneer 2 will be among the first to participate in grid balancing, following Protium’s collaboration with Flexitricity as the first green hydrogen asset to be awarded support under the UK Government’s capacity market auction process.
The facility will support off-grid power and transport applications, as well as emerging uses such as hydrogen-powered autonomous vehicles, e-fuel production, and R&D projects.
By extending hydrogen access beyond the national grid, the company aims to reduce emissions from remote operations, construction sites, and logistics hubs, all critical sectors in achieving the UK’s net zero targets.
Pioneer 2 incorporates advanced high-pressure hydrogen compression and storage systems, improving efficiency and enabling downstream refuelling for heavy-duty transport, maritime, and industrial users.
Chris Jackson, CEO of Protium, said: “Pioneer 2 is a key milestone for Protium and for UK green hydrogen. For the company, this represents a 25x increase in our existing hydrogen production capacity and for our customers, this means Protium will be able to support larger volumes of hydrogen and in a greater variety of storage products than ever before.
“Having operated Pioneer 1 for more than two years, we’ve seen the demand in the market for available green hydrogen, and we know that supply is now the constraint on further UK green hydrogen demand growth.
“That’s why we are proud to be leading the way, supporting our customers in South Wales and beyond in their net zero journey.”
Ben Burggraaf, CEO of Net Zero Industry Wales, added: “Since the inception of the South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC), it has been clear that hydrogen plays a key role in making Wales a leading clean energy transition hub and a cornerstone of the UK’s industrial base.
“We are delighted that this project has come to Wales — sited in Baglan in the heart of the South Wales Valleys, Pioneer 2 will support manufacturing jobs in the region and will form a key part of the region’s thriving hydrogen ecosystem.”
With planning and permitting complete, Protium has secured a 2.5 MWe Nel electrolyser along with compression and dispensing systems, already delivered to site.
The company expects full commercial operations to begin in early 2026, with several commercial customers already committed.
Working closely with Neath Port Talbot Council, Protium says Pioneer 2 reinforces a shared ambition to establish South Wales as a centre of excellence for green hydrogen and a model for clean energy innovation.
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