ESSAR is purchasing Thornton Science Park from the University of Chester to establish an energy transition hub in Northwest England. The 66-acre science park, set to become the headquarters for Essar Energy Transition (EET) businesses, will see a significant investment of US$3bn in low carbon energy transition projects over the next five years. Notably, EET plans to locate EET Fuels and EET Hydrogen at the site, with a specific focus on constructing a blue hydrogen production facility at Stanlow. This facility will play a crucial role in the HyNet CCS cluster, where hydrogen will be produced for regional manufacturers like Tata Chemicals and Pilkington, with CO2 storage planned in gas fields under Liverpool Bay. The move is seen as a step towards enhancing energy security and securing a workforce for fuels production. The acquisition also marks a strategic shift for the site, formerly home to the Shell Technology Centre, as it transitions towards becoming a leading hub for energy innovation and industrial research. The University of Chester took over the site after Shell's closure in 2012 but faced challenges related to planning permissions, ultimately leading to the move of engineering students to Exton Park in Chester city center.