Europe's First 100% Hydrogen-Fuelled Power Plant Planned for Stanlow Refinery
Key Ideas
- Essar plans to build Europe's first 100% hydrogen-fuelled power plant at their Stanlow refinery by 2027.
- The EET Hydrogen Power plant will help cut carbon emissions at the site by 740,000 tonnes per annum and supply low-carbon energy to other industrial users.
- The project is part of the wider HyNet industrial cluster, with Essar investing $3bn in energy transition initiatives in the North West.
- The aim is to reduce Stanlow's total emissions by 95% by 2030 and position it as the world's lowest carbon refinery.
Essar Energy Transition (EET) has announced plans to construct Europe's first 100% hydrogen-fuelled power plant at their Stanlow refinery in the United Kingdom. The EET Hydrogen Power plant, scheduled to be operational by 2027, will be a hydrogen-ready combined heat and power plant that converts hydrogen from the refinery into power and steam for its operations. This initiative is aimed at significantly reducing carbon emissions at the site, with projections indicating a decrease of 740,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year while also providing low-carbon energy to nearby industrial users.
The development of EET Hydrogen Power will take place in two phases, reaching a capacity of 125 MW of power and 6,000 tonnes per day of steam. As part of Essar's broader commitment to energy transition, the project aligns with the goal to cut Stanlow's emissions by 95% by 2030, positioning it as a leading low carbon refinery globally.
Furthermore, the EET Hydrogen Power plant will play a crucial role in the HyNet industrial cluster initiative, which aims to establish the North West region as a hub for green energy. Essar is set to invest $3 billion in energy transition projects in the North West, emphasizing their dedication to decarbonisation and sustainability.
Tony Fountain, managing partner of Essar Energy Transition, expressed the company's commitment to advancing the UK's low-carbon energy landscape through projects like EET Hydrogen Power. This initiative represents a significant step towards showcasing the pathway to decarbonizing high-emission industries on a global scale.
The CEO of EET Hydrogen Power, Rob Wallace, highlighted the ambitious vision for Stanlow to become a low carbon transition hub within the HyNet Industrial Cluster. By leveraging low carbon hydrogen, the project is expected to make substantial contributions to regional emissions reduction targets, further solidifying Essar's position as a key player in the green energy transition.