£750m plans have been revealed to build the 海角视频's first low carbon hydrogen production hub at Essar's Stanlow Refinery in Cheshire.
The scheme is a joint venture by the refinery's operator Essar and Progressive Energy, developers of the HyNet North West project - the industrial decarbonisation cluster.
It will convert natural gas and fuel gases from the refinery into low-carbon hydrogen, with carbon dioxide safely captured and stored offshore in sub-surface reservoirs in Liverpool Bay.
Chris Manson-Whitton, director at Progressive Energy said: “We cannot reach net zero without decarbonising industry.
"Today brings a key milestone in that journey as Progressive Energy and Essar Oil 海角视频 sign a Memorandum of Understanding setting out how we will work together to deliver this exciting project at Stanlow Refinery.
“Delivering net zero requires a transformation of our energy system. HyNet offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create real change in energy production and consumption, creating a cleaner world for future generations. It will unlock the low carbon hydrogen economy in the North West, reducing emissions and creating and safeguarding jobs.”
The hydrogen production hub will deliver clean energy to industry in the HyNet ‘low carbon cluster’, as well as to fuel buses, trains and heavy goods vehicles, to heat our homes, and to generate electricity when the sun is not shining or the wind blowing.
The 海角视频’s first low carbon hydrogen hub will initially produce three terawatt-hours (TWh) of low carbon hydrogen each year from 2025.
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Today’s agreement between Essar and Progressive Energy provides the basis to take the project through final development and into construction and operation.
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The project will be jointly delivered by the two companies. Progressive Energy originated the HyNet North West decarbonisation cluster, and Essar’s downstream energy activities in the area provide a natural structure for delivery.
Stein Ivar Bye, CEO of Essar Oil 海角视频, added: “Essar is committed to innovative growth as a means to create positive impact to both economy and environment.
"HyNet and hydrogen production is integral to Stanlow’s strategy and will set it on a journey to be the 海角视频’s first net zero emission refinery with the ambition to avoid emissions of over 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere per year, the equivalent of taking nearly a million cars off the road.
“With the support from government to establish the appropriate business incentives, together with Progressive Energy, we are committed to undertaking the development and the financing of its construction.
“Hydrogen has a central role to play in our low carbon energy solution. We are demonstrating that the industry is committed to play its part of the 海角视频’s transformational hydrogen strategy.”