Hydrogen-Powered Forestry: £250,000 Mid Wales Study 2026

Key Points

• Ceredigion County Council acting for the Growing Mid Wales Board is looking for experts who will undertake a study on forestry decarbonisation.
• The value of the contract will be between £125,000 and £250,000 and is contingent upon approval of grant funding.
• The study will look into whether locally produced green hydrogen can substitute diesel fuel used in forestry transport, machinery and infrastructure.
• It will be part of the Datgloi forestry project by Growing Mid Wales and will build on earlier studies by Challoch Energy Ltd.
• It will consider technical, operational, economic, environmental and regulatory feasibility of such decarbonisation efforts in the rural forestry setting.
• Tendering was launched on 15 October 2026 with bids deadline on 9 November 2026.
• Earlier feasibility project investigated production of green hydrogen from wind energy, including curtailed wind, at Devil’s Bridge, Ceredigion.
• According to Ceredigion County Council, forestry sustains up to 14,000 jobs in the area.
• It is required that the consultant tests underlying assumptions and explores other or complementary low carbon options.
• The project may result in a prototype demonstrator, further large-scale delivery being contingent upon its outcomes.

Wales (Wales Times) November 4, 2026 — Ceredigion County Council has launched a procurement process for a study worth up to £250,000 to determine whether green hydrogen produced locally in Mid Wales could replace diesel in forestry vehicles, machinery and supporting infrastructure.

What Is the £250,000 Hydrogen Forestry Study?

As reported by the Cambrian News, Ceredigion County Council, acting on behalf of the Growing Mid Wales Board, is seeking specialist consultants to assess whether locally produced green hydrogen could provide a practical alternative to diesel in the region’s forestry industry.

The commission is part of the Growing Mid Wales Datgloi Project, described in the tender documentation as a forestry decarbonisation initiative. According to the tender notice, the appointed consultancy will assess the technical, operational, commercial and environmental feasibility of hydrogen-powered machinery, vehicles and associated infrastructure within a rural forestry setting.

The estimated contract value is between £125,000 and £250,000 for the full term of the contract. The council has stated that any award is conditional on the approval and availability of grant funding, and it reserves the right not to award a contract if the required funding is not secured.

Why Is Mid Wales Exploring Green Hydrogen?

The study follows earlier work examining how wind power could be used to make green hydrogen for forestry operations. In February 2026, Ceredigion County Council announced that Challoch Energy Ltd was leading a project at Devil’s Bridge, Ceredigion, to examine how wind power could produce green hydrogen to replace diesel in forestry machinery and vehicles.

That project was supported through Growing Mid Wales’ Whole System Research for Innovation and Decarbonisation programme, which forms part of the Welsh Government’s Climate Innovation funding. According to the council, the programme supports applied research and feasibility studies that test low-carbon solutions in real-world rural settings.

The council said forestry is a major employer across the region, supporting around 14,000 jobs, but relies heavily on diesel-powered equipment. The earlier feasibility study was intended to explore whether locally generated renewable energy could provide a cleaner and practical alternative while strengthening the resilience of rural industries.

What Will the New Consultants Assess?

The tender states that the successful bidder will carry out technical assessments, feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement and option appraisal activities to produce evidence-based recommendations.

The scope includes hydrogen-powered machinery, vehicles and associated infrastructure. The consultant will be expected to consider how such equipment and facilities could operate within a rural forestry environment, where terrain, transport distances, refuelling needs and seasonal work patterns may affect viability.

Bidders must also “objectively test assumptions” and consider alternative or complementary low-carbon solutions where appropriate. The council says this requirement is intended to ensure that recommendations are practical, achievable and deliverable.

Who Is Involved in the Project?

The procurement is being run by Cyngor Sir Ceredigion County Council on behalf of the Growing Mid Wales Board. The tender notice identifies the buyer as Ceredigion County Council and lists the location as Wales, with the council’s administrative base given as Aberaeron in related tender listings.

The earlier Challoch Energy project involved cooperation with the Mid Wales timber transport group. According to Ceredigion County Council, that group includes Natural Resources Wales, Ceredigion County Council, Powys County Council and Carmarthenshire County Council, along with timber companies, hauliers and local stakeholders.

The council said the project would identify suitable locations for wind turbines and hydrogen production facilities. It also stated that a strong emphasis would be placed on local ownership and community benefit, with the aim of keeping both energy generation and use within the region.

What Have Project Leaders Said?

In a joint statement, the joint chairs of the Growing Mid Wales Board, Bryan Davies, leader of Ceredigion County Council, and Jake Berriman, leader of Powys County Council, said: “Through the WSRID programme, we are supporting practical, place-based solutions that respond to the needs of our rural economy while contributing to Wales’ net zero ambitions.”

Dr Simon Minett, managing director of Challoch Energy Ltd, said: “This project will help Mid Wales cut emissions, support jobs, and build a stronger rural economy by using wind power to produce hydrogen. Forestry is essential to the region, and we want to explore solutions that work in practice, not just in theory.”

The council said that, if successful, Challoch Energy’s approach could provide a scalable model for more sustainable forestry in Mid Wales and across Wales. It added that the approach could support Welsh Government net zero ambitions while creating opportunities for rural growth.

When Was the Tender Published and When Does It Close?

The tender was published on 15 October 2026. According to the tender listing, the submission deadline is 9 November 2026.

The notice is titled “Growing Mid Wales Datgloi Project – Specialist Consultancy Services” and its Welsh-language equivalent, “Prosiect Datgloi Canolbarth Cymru sy’n Tyfu – Gwasanaethau Ymgynghori Arbenigol”. It is listed under several procurement categories, including energy-efficiency consultancy, technical services, energy-management services, feasibility studies, forestry management, environmental consultancy and engineering studies.

Tender documents and submissions are handled through the Sell2Wales portal, according to the tender listing.

How Does the Project Fit Into Wider Clean Energy Work?

The hydrogen forestry study is one of four clean energy initiatives supported through the WSRID programme, according to Ceredigion County Council. The council said the other projects include turning livestock slurry into renewable energy and nutrient products, developing digital tools for net zero planning on dairy farms, and piloting community-focused energy systems to improve local resilience.

The council described the initiatives as positioning Mid Wales as a “living testbed” for low-carbon solutions tailored to rural, agricultural and land-based economies.

The earlier hydrogen project was also referenced in a June 2026 council update on net zero solutions. That update said Challoch Energy’s VREM Cymru project at Devil’s Bridge explored the use of curtailed wind energy to produce green hydrogen, supporting decarbonisation of forestry and timber operations, which it described as an economically important but hard-to-decarbonise rural sector.

Could the Study Lead to a Pilot Project?

The tender documentation indicates that the project may include the development of an early-stage pilot demonstrator. A separate tender listing describes the Growing Mid Wales Datgloi Forestry Decarbonisation Project as exploring hydrogen-powered solutions to reduce carbon emissions from forestry and timber operations, including an early-stage pilot demonstrator.

Ceredigion County Council’s February announcement said the feasibility study would assess technical, commercial and regulatory considerations alongside stakeholder engagement. It added that, subject to outcomes, the project could progress to full-scale delivery in a future phase.

The council has not announced a preferred consultant, a confirmed pilot site or a timetable for deploying hydrogen-powered forestry equipment. The current procurement is for specialist consultancy services rather than the purchase or deployment of vehicles or machinery.

Background of the Development

The development builds on Growing Mid Wales’ broader work to support innovation and decarbonisation in rural Mid Wales. Its WSRID programme forms part of the Welsh Government’s Climate Innovation funding and is designed to test low-carbon solutions in practical rural settings.

Challoch Energy Ltd led the earlier Devil’s Bridge feasibility project, which examined the use of wind power to produce green hydrogen for forestry machinery and vehicles. The council said the project aimed to identify suitable locations for wind turbines and hydrogen production facilities while working with timber firms, hauliers, councils and Natural Resources Wales through the Mid Wales timber transport group.

The new procurement represents the next stage of that work. Rather than assuming hydrogen is the answer, the council has asked consultants to test the evidence, examine alternatives and assess whether hydrogen-powered forestry operations can be delivered in a commercially and environmentally viable way.

Prediction: How Could This Affect Forestry Businesses and Rural Communities?

If the study finds a workable model, forestry businesses in Mid Wales could gain a route to reduce diesel use in vehicles and machinery, particularly for timber transport and processing activities identified in the tender scope.

For forestry contractors, hauliers and timber processors, the immediate effect is likely to be greater clarity on costs, infrastructure needs and operational practicality. The study’s requirement to assess commercial feasibility means its findings could influence whether businesses consider hydrogen equipment, partnerships or local refuelling arrangements in future investment decisions.

For rural communities, the project could support local energy generation and employment if wind-to-hydrogen facilities are developed with local ownership and community benefit in mind, as the council has stated. However, any wider impact will depend on the study’s findings, the availability of grant funding and whether a pilot demonstrator progresses to full-scale delivery.