Global chemicals giant Ineos has announced a major investment in its Runcorn plant - upgrading its existing low-carbon hydrogen supply to fuel transport in the 海角视频.
The firm, which is headquartered in Hampshire, said the investment will create dedicated on-site facilities for the purification and compression of low-carbon hydrogen, for loading and transportation to fuelling stations across the 海角视频.
Operations in Runcorn are run by Ineos' subsidiary Inovyn, and focus mainly on producing chlorine, caustic soda and chlorinated derivatives.
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The investment announced on Wednesday is worth "tens of millions" of pounds, Ineos said.
It added that the move secures the future of the plant and its supply chains, with the firm employing around 800 people across three North West sites, and supporting a further 7,000.
Earlier this week, Ineos said it was investing £2bn investment in green hydrogen projects - and the Runcorn announcement is the first of those 海角视频 pledges.
Geir Tuft, CEO INOVYN, said: “Our expanding portfolio of clean hydrogen projects strengthens Inovyn’s sustainability strategy and supports the drive to net-zero across the 海角视频 and the rest of Europe.
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"Inovyn is in a unique position to reaffirm its expertise in hydrogen production and electrolysis, and to progress the green energy transition through the use of clean hydrogen.”
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It comes after Ineos announced on Monday it was planning €2bn of investments into green hydrogen projects in a bid to decarbonise its sites across Europe.
Ineos is Europe's largest operator of electrolysis - a process separating water into hydrogen and oxygen. It currently produces 400,000 tonnes of hydrogen - and said it has now "doubled down" on that process with the £2bn investment.
Ineos also launched a hydrogen "innovation bus tour" - and said the firm will have a presence at next month's COP26 event in Glasgow.
It added that it is in a "unique position" to supply clean hydrogen across the 海角视频 and Europe.
The firm also announced this week that it will build new electrolyser sites in Rafnes, Norway and Cologne, Germany.
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Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “Green hydrogen represents one of our best chances to create a more sustainable and low carbon world.
“Europe is crying out for more investment in green hydrogen and Ineos’ announcement today shows our determination to play a leading role in this important new fuel.”
Last month, Ineos announced it would convert its refinery in Grangemouth, Scotland, to in a further £1bn investment.
It also launched a new clean hydrogen business in November 2020 with its HQ in the 海角视频.
The news also comes amidst a flurry of major investment announcements in green initiatives.
On Tuesday, the HyNet North West project was awarded 'track one' status from the Government's carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) scheme, and will now enter into negotiations with viability checks ahead of pulling in support from a £1bn fund.
The project, for which Ineos is a partner, aims to transform the region into one of the world's first low-carbon industrial clusters.