Wrightbus at heart of £6.5bn hydrogen mega-project set to transform UK economy

Ballymena’s Wrightbus is at the forefront of a transformative £6.5 billion clean hydrogen initiative that promises to create 24,300 jobs across the UK and position the nation as a global leader in renewable energy.

Project HySpeed, unveiled this week, unites some of Britain’s most influential companies—including Wrightbus, Centrica, JCB, and ITM Power—in a landmark effort to scale up green hydrogen production, reduce costs, and accelerate industrial decarbonisation.

The project is a major coup for Ballymena, where Wrightbus, a pioneer in zero-emission transport, has been a vital part of the local economy for decades. As a key member of the HydraB Power group, which spearheads HySpeed, Wrightbus brings its expertise as the producer of the world’s first hydrogen-powered double-decker bus.

HydraB Power, the holding company behind several ‘Road to Zero’ businesses, also includes Ryze Power, which distributes hydrogen to fleet users and industrial customers, and Hygen, a firm dedicated to developing low-carbon hydrogen production sites.

Together, these companies strengthen Wrightbus’s role in building a sustainable future, with Ballymena poised to reap significant economic and environmental rewards.

HySpeed’s launch coincides with the Government’s HAR2 funding announcement, which shortlisted 27 electrolytic hydrogen projects across the UK. The initiative directly responds to the Government’s ambition to make the UK a “clean energy superpower,” a vision articulated by Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, during a recent visit to Wrightbus in Ballymena.

In an interview with The Times on 11 April, Mr. Kyle underscored the UK’s potential to dominate hydrogen technology. “We cannot compete on cost in the production of batteries. That ship has sailed. But on hydrogen, what we are doing in Britain is market-leading,” he said.

His words carry particular weight in Ballymena, where Wrightbus’s hydrogen fuel cell buses are already transforming public transport in cities across the UK and beyond.

HySpeed, led by green entrepreneur Jo Bamford, Executive Chairman of HydraB Power, unites FTSE 100 giants and smaller enterprises, including Centrica, JCB, National Gas, and Wrightbus.

The project aims to deliver 1 gigawatt of hydrogen capacity by 2030, cutting CO2 emissions by one million tonnes annually. It will establish hydrogen production hubs strategically located to support local economies, with plans to inject hydrogen into the gas grid to decarbonise industries nationwide.

For Ballymena, the impact is profound. Wrightbus’s pioneering work, backed by HydraB Power’s broader ecosystem—including Ryze Power’s distribution networks and Hygen’s production sites—positions the town as a hub for green innovation.

The project is expected to create high-skilled jobs in manufacturing and engineering, building on Wrightbus’s legacy. HySpeed’s focus on aggregated procurement and low-cost financing will also drive down green hydrogen costs, amplifying the viability of Wrightbus’s hydrogen buses and other clean technologies.

Mr. Bamford described HySpeed as a “compelling answer” to the Government’s call for bold action on clean energy. “Now more than ever, the UK needs to stand on its own two feet, especially when it comes to our energy resources,” he said. “Hydrogen offers us the opportunity to be energy secure and independent.” He noted that discussions with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have been “hugely encouraging,” signalling robust governmental support.

The economic benefits are substantial. A report accompanying HySpeed’s launch estimates it will generate £2 billion annually in Gross Value Added (GVA) through new industrial supply chains and hydrogen facilities.

Many of the 24,300 jobs will be in construction, operations, and manufacturing. The project aligns with the UK’s Green Jobs Delivery Group’s target of 480,000 skilled green jobs by 2030, offering long-term prosperity.

Dennis Schulz, CEO of ITM Power, emphasised the power of collaboration. “A consortium approach between credible industry players is the most effective pathway to the rapid scale-up of the UK’s green hydrogen economy,” he said. “With volume come economies of scale, which will drive down costs and accelerate the market substantially.”

Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive of Centrica, added, “There is no silver bullet to decarbonise the energy system. Hydrogen can play a crucial role in tackling emissions from sectors that other clean energy sources can’t easily reach. It can power the UK when the sun doesn’t shine, and the wind doesn’t blow.”

Wrightbus, supported by HydraB Power’s vision, showcases Northern Ireland’s contribution to the UK’s green agenda. The project ensures that Ballymena will benefit from new jobs, investment, and a strengthened identity as a leader in sustainable technology.