Controversial blue hydrogen pipeline deliberate for the North

British gas giant Cadent is planning a 60-mile energy pipeline in the North of England.

The energy distribution firm, which is owned by ex-Thames water owner Macquarie, will develop the first ‘blue hydrogen’ scheme of its kind in the UK. 

An underground pipeline will run from a plant near Ellesmere Port into Cheshire.

Customers signed up include Heineken and Kraft Heinz, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

Blue hydrogen production has faced a backlash from eco-warriors, as it still uses fossil fuels.

Controversial: An underground pipeline will run from a plant near Ellesmere Port into Cheshire

It involves combining natural gas with steam, creating carbon dioxide.

Cadent’s director of strategy, Angela Needle, said the Hynet project ‘will serve as a blueprint for industrial decarbonisation, enabling growth and supporting the Government to achieve its clean power 2030 mission’.

It comes as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is pledging to invest £1billion into schemes to produce blue hydrogen.

But scientists have warned this technology could make it harder to hit green targets.