ITM Power Sheffield: 300 hi-tech manufacturing jobs on way at new city factory

Three hundred hi-tech manufacturing jobs will be created in Sheffield under plans for a record-breaking new factory.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Hydrogen specialist ITM Power is set open ‘UK Gigafactory 2.0’ by the end of April 2023 as part of a £250m expansion drive.

The new facility will stand next to the firm’s existing factory on Bessemer Park in Tinsley - claimed to be the largest of its kind in the world.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Gigafactory 2.0 will be bigger still, with 50 per cent more production capacity.

ITM Power's Gigafactory 2.0 (red) will stand next to its existing facility on Bessemer Park (in blue).ITM Power's Gigafactory 2.0 (red) will stand next to its existing facility on Bessemer Park (in blue).
ITM Power's Gigafactory 2.0 (red) will stand next to its existing facility on Bessemer Park (in blue).
Read More
Great Northern Conference 2021: date, venue, speakers and how to buy tickets

ITM Power makes electrolysers that split water to create hydrogen, a carbon-free fuel that can be burned in cars, homes and in industry.

It employs 360 people, 95 per cent in Sheffield, and is valued at £2.38bn, although it has never made a profit. It aims to raise £250m by selling shares in the company.

A third factory will be built overseas in an as yet unnamed country.

ITM Power opened its Gigafactory in June.ITM Power opened its Gigafactory in June.
ITM Power opened its Gigafactory in June.

JOBS AND TRAINING

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesman said £210m would be invested into the two new sites, with millions more on new jobs and training, including expansion of its Hydrogen Academy.

The hydrogen sector is riding high after the Government promised to boost hi-tech green sectors post-Brexit. It must also meet a legally-binding commitment for the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050.

The announcement has been welcomed in Sheffield.

Richard Cook, managing director at Castings Technology, said: “My greatest hope is that ITM will expand quickly enough to stop the spread of battery 'gigafactories' and largely fossil-fuel charged electric vehicles’s. The TRUE green energy revolution can't come soon enough…”

But Richard Sutton, head of delivery at Metropolitan Thames Valley, was somewhat sceptical.

JAM TOMORROW

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “A 'Jam Tomorrow' valuation clearly, let's hope they have all the ingredients and equipment to make lots of jam.”

Andy Nolan, development and sustainability director at The University of Nottingham, said: “This kind of investment, aligned to low carbon economy is precisely the kind of investment the UK needs and it’s a great opportunity for Sheffield.”

Sheffield business consultant Hayley Koseoglu said: “Looks like a really positive move for the region and another step to help achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions.”

Join the debate on how best to grow the economy and build a greener, fairer, equal future for the North and hear from our noteable cast of keynote speakers at the Great Northern Conference

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.