National Gas has revealed proposals for more than 300 miles of underground hydrogen pipeline along England’s East Coast, marking the first phase of a planned national hydrogen network for Great Britain under Project Union: East Coast.

The new transmission route would link key industrial areas, creating the backbone of a hydrogen corridor intended to stimulate local economies, support and create jobs, and bolster energy security by enabling a shift to low‑carbon fuels.

Spanning from Teesside through Yorkshire and the Humber and down into the East Midlands, the pipeline is designed to connect major production, storage and demand centres, underpinning the UK’s emerging hydrogen economy.

National Gas Chief Commercial Officer, Ian Radley, said: "This is a hugely significant moment in Britain's energy transition and a clear signal of the real momentum behind the UK’s hydrogen ambitions. By setting out concrete plans for the first phase of the national hydrogen network, we're delivering the infrastructure that will secure Britain's place as a world leader in hydrogen.

"The East Coast is the natural place to start. It's one of Britain's most important industrial heartlands with enormous hydrogen potential, making it the ideal region to begin developing a network that can then scale across the country.

"Building Britain's national hydrogen network will unlock major investment, create a critical pathway for hard‑to‑electrify industries to decarbonise, and safeguard thousands of jobs - all while supporting the Government's clean power ambitions and strengthening the nation’s long‑term energy security."

The company points to six decades of safe natural gas operations on the National Transmission System as evidence of its track record, and highlights its FutureGrid programme, which has shown that existing infrastructure can carry 100% hydrogen safely with validated safety systems and fatigue-tested materials.

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Project Union aims to create up to 1,500 miles of dedicated hydrogen pipelines by repurposing sections of the current gas network and constructing new routes where required. The programme is intended to power British industry, drive economic growth, support and safeguard employment, and reinforce the UK's energy resilience.

It is also expected to contribute to the UK Government’s 2050 net zero target by enabling a transition to home-grown, low‑carbon energy for sectors that are hard to decarbonise.

Early analysis commissioned by National Gas suggests Project Union could support around 3,100 jobs at peak construction and generate £300 million in annual direct gross value added to the economy. More broadly, the hydrogen industry could create tens of thousands of jobs and add billions of pounds each year, with hydrogen complementing other energy sources, preserving existing roles by providing a viable low‑carbon fuel, and generating new opportunities in the green economy.

The strategic need for a national hydrogen backbone has been recognised by the Climate Change Committee, the Second National Infrastructure Assessment and the Government's Hydrogen Transport and Storage Networks Pathway.

Hydrogen UK CEO, Clare Jackson, said: "Hydrogen UK welcomes the next phase of National Gas’s Project Union. Developing a hydrogen backbone is essential to unlocking investment, driving economic growth and supporting the reindustrialisation of the UK’s energy-intensive regions. By connecting hydrogen production with the industries that need it, infrastructure like this will help ensure British industry remains competitive in the global energy transition while strengthening the UK’s energy security."

The update follows a recent collaboration between National Gas, Centrica, Equinor and SSE Thermal that secured government funding for Britain’s first hydrogen cluster – Humber Hydrogen.

The East Coast pipeline will connect into the Humber Hydrogen cluster, integrating production, storage and industrial off-takers across the region.

England's East Coast is expected to be central to the UK’s hydrogen build-out, with a ready-made supply chain spanning industrial demand, production projects and existing energy assets, alongside a skilled workforce and specialist firms able to deliver this national infrastructure.

Project Union: East Coast forms part of East Coast Hydrogen, a partnership between National Gas, Northern Gas Networks and Cadent to align planned hydrogen supply and storage with industrial users.

Project Union will be deployed region by region. In November 2025, Ofgem confirmed £164 million for three National Gas initiatives, including Project Union: East Coast, to enable development of more than half of the proposed national hydrogen network.

The East Coast scheme is currently in a two-year Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase covering technical design, environmental assessment, consents and engagement.

Later this year, National Gas will begin public consultation on Project Union: East Coast, providing further details on the plans and inviting communities to share their views.