Essar Energy Transition Launches Europe's First Hydrogen-Ready CHP Plant at Stanlow Refinery
Essar Energy Transition will develop EET Hydrogen Power at Stanlow, the first hydrogen-ready combined heat and power plant in Europe. Construction of the site is planned at the Stanlow refinery and is slated for completion in 2027. This is green energy technology that, in its various configurations, alters fundamentally an ambition of EET toward leading in low-carbon energy transition.
It will help EET Fuels achieve its aim of becoming the world's lowest carbon process refinery and EET Hydrogen the leading low carbon hydrogen producer in the UK, together with other low-carbon power industrial users. EET Hydrogen Power will operate on a stand-alone vertical basis within EET.
The project will be progressed in two stages, reaching an operational capacity capable of producing 125 MW of power and 6,000 tonnes per day of steam. Hydrogen would replace hydrocarbons in the process, with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 740,000 tons annually. It is to replace Stanlow's boiler units; these units have, so far, produced an approximate 50 MW of power if one considers only the power used for refinery operations. This is an important plant to help decarbonize EET Fuels' Stanlow refinery, targeting a reduced total emission of 95% in the year 2030 and aspiring to become the world's lowest carbon refinery.
EET Hydrogen Power is a key enabling infrastructure project that underpins the decarbonization plans of the HyNet industrial cluster. Future, it brings a blueprint for industrial and power sector decarbonization. The investment is going to create highly skilled employment in the Northwest entering into regional economic growth.
The hydrogen-ready power plant is one of EET's $3.0 billion energy transition initiatives in North West England. EET oversees EET Hydrogen Power, EET Fuels, owner of the Stanlow Refinery, EET Hydrogen, which is developing more than 1.35 GW of blue and green hydrogen capacity targeted at the UK market to be followed by a capacity ambition of 4 GW, and Stanlow Terminals Ltd., comprising the largest independent bulk liquid storage terminal in the UK investing in infrastructure for biofuels and new energies.
According to Tony Fountain, managing partner at Essar Energy Transition, "The establishment of EET Hydrogen Power clearly evidences the progress that Essar Energy Transition is making to deliver on its promise: to place the UK at the heart of low-carbon energy. EET Hydrogen Power brings this to life and demonstrates our intent to show the world how high-emitting vital industries will be decarbonized".
While commenting on the plans, chief executive of c, Rob Wallace, said, "We have bold ambitions for Stanlow to become a low carbon transition hub at the heart of the HyNet Industrial Cluster. EET Hydrogen Power will be Europe's first 100 per cent hydrogen-ready gas-turbine plant, supplied with EET Hydrogen's low-carbon hydrogen. This project will create significant benefits by contributing to regional emissions reduction targets".
EET Hydrogen Power thus represents the initiation of this journey toward a low-carbon future and underlines Essar Energy Transition's commitment to innovative, ultimately sustainable energy solutions.