BP pulled out of a planned blue hydrogen project in the UK this week – H2 Teesside – amid a dispute over whether the allocated land should instead be used for a data center. The project was part of BP plans “to kickstart the UK’s hydrogen economy at scale,” and Abu Dhabi’s Adnoc had agreed to take a 25% stake (MEES, 27 May). But while the hype over low-carbon hydrogen is waning, that for AI data centers is waxing, and now the project has been axed. As recently as February, BP cited the project in a presentation on its low carbon strategy, referencing the partnership with “Adnoc XRG.”
XRG is also reducing its focus on hydrogen in preference for data centers, rebranding its ‘Low Carbon Energies’ platform as ‘Energy Solutions’ earlier this year (MEES, 6 June). (CONTINUED - 133 WORDS)