Essar Energy Transition, the Essar Group entity driving the USD 3.6 billion worth of low carbon projects in the UK and India, on Friday said it will build Europe’s First Hydrogen-fueled Power Plant at its Stanlow refinery in the UK by 2027. Hydrogen fuelled power is an essential part of decarbonisation of industry and the power system in the UK is essential to reduce emissions, in line with government targets.
Without giving details about the investment involved in contructing the project, the firm in a statement said it is announcing “the launch of EET Hydrogen Power, Europe’s first hydrogen-ready combined heat and power plant (CHP) to be built at its Stanlow refinery, with the aim of completing construction in 2027”.
Moreover, the plant will be based at EET Fuels’ Stanlow refinery. Tony Fountain, Managing Partner of Essar Energy Transition, said, “Launching EET Hydrogen Power shows the progress that Essar Energy Transition is making in delivering against its commitment to put the UK at the forefront of low-carbon energy.”
“The investment will support EET Fuels’ ambition to become the lowest carbon process refinery, globally and EET Hydrogen’s ambition to become the leading low carbon hydrogen producer in the UK.
“It will also provide low carbon power to other industrial users in the region to support their decarbonisation targets. EET Hydrogen Power will become an independent vertical under EET,” it said.
Capacity of the Europe’s First Hydrogen-fueled Power Plant
EET Hydrogen Power will be developed over two phases to reach a capacity of 125 MW of power with 6,000 tonnes per day of steam, with the hydrogen replacing hydrocarbons delivering a reduction of 740,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.
The new plant will replace Stanlow’s existing boiler units, which currently generates about 50 MW of power for the refinery operations. The plant is integral to the decarbonisation of operations at EET Fuels’ Stanlow refinery, which plans to cut total emissions by 95 per cent by 2030, to become the world’s lowest carbon refinery.
Significance of the Project
EET Hydrogen Power is a key infrastructure project, supporting the decarbonisation plans of the wider HyNet industrial cluster as well as forming a blueprint for future industrial and power decarbonisation.
Additionally, the investment also delivers on EET’s contribution in supporting and growing high skilled employment in the North West.
“The investment into building Europe’s first hydrogen-ready power plant is a key part of EET’s overall USD 3 billion of energy transition initiatives in North West of England,” the statement said.
Rob Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of EET Hydrogen Power, said, “We have bold ambitions for Stanlow to become a low carbon transition hub at the centre of the HyNet Industrial Cluster.”
Lastly, EET Hydrogen Power will be Europe’s first 100 per cent hydrogen-ready gas-turbine plant which will be supplied with EET Hydrogen’s low carbon hydrogen. This project will create significant benefit by contributing to regional emissions’ reductions targets, Wallace added.
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