Antrim based BS Holdings Ltd has agreed a first of its kinds hydrogen offtake arrangement that will underpin a new zero-emission hydrogen-to-power project in Ballymna, strengthening Northern Ireland’s position in advanced energy and clean manufacturing systems.
The agreement will see BS Holdings secure a long-term supploy of ultra-high-purity hydrogen to fuel its Penta hydrogen-to-power system, subject to final improvements. The project is being developed as a first of a kid initiative lined up with the UK Government’s hydrogen programme, and is expected to commence in 2027.
Powerhouse Energy Group are developing a waste to Hydrogen facility in Ballymena which will use non-recyclable waste destined for landfill to generate clean hydrogen, a high carbon residue product and electricity. This is a key enhancement of the circular economy, lowering carbon emissions and supporting jobs in the Mid & East Antrim council area. By pairing local hydrogen production with local consumption, the model reduces transport requirements, supports regional jobs and creates a more resilient energy ecosystem anchored in Northern Ireland.
BS Holdings specialises in the design, integration and manufacture of hydrogen and fuel-cell power systems, with a growing track record across grid, industrial and CHP applications. The Ballymena project will demonstrate how hydrogen can be used to generate reliable electricity without emissions, particularly during periods when wind or solar generation is constrained.
Using the Penta fuel cell platform, the system converts hydrogen into power that can be exported to the grid, helping to reduce curtailment, manage intermittency, and avoid reliance on gas-fired generation. For Northern Ireland’s manufacturing base, this addresses a core challenge: maintaining energy reliability while decarbonising at pace. It also allows BS Holdings to use the project as a demonstrator for industrial and manufacturing users, including combined heat and power, and tri-generation systems which can deliver electricity, high-grade heat, cooling and water, modulating output in line with real time demand and achieving efficiencies significantly beyond traditional gas CHP.
The project sits within a wider collaborative framework which will involve tech partners, local authorities and grid stakeholders, with BS Holdings undertaking engagement with SONI and NIE Networks on future flexibility and grid integration. This is part of a longer term ambition to develop tri-located energy sites, combining renewables and hydrogen production on shared grid infrastructure. This approach supports net zero manufacturing whilst maximising use of existing transmission assets and anchoring advanced engineering capability in the region.