Essar’s plans of establishing a large-scale, low-carbon hydrogen production plant in the UK at the Stanlow manufacturing complex has been approved by the Cheshire West & Chester Council. The initiative by Essar Energy Transition (EET) involves the creation of two plants, namely HPP1 and HPP2, constituting a hydrogen hub.
The innovative hub is designed to facilitate the transition of local industrial and power generation businesses from conventional fossil fuels to low-carbon energy sources, thereby contributing to a substantial reduction of carbon emissions in the North West by 2.5 million tons annually.
The produced hydrogen will be utilised locally by prominent entities such as the Essar refinery, as well as other major manufacturers in the region including Tata Chemicals, Encirc, and Pilkington. The collective effort aims to establish the world’s pioneering low-carbon refining operations, glass manufacturing, and chemical production sites. The implementation of the EET hydrogen hub is crucial for securing and fostering growth in vital industries.
The development of the hydrogen hub will occur in sequential phases, commencing with the construction of HPP1 boasting a capacity of 350 MW. Subsequently, the second plant, HPP2, will be established with a capacity of 1,000 MW.
As reported by ENERGYWATCH, the aim is to achieve an overall capacity exceeding 4,000 MW by the year 2030. Integral to the UK’s premier industrial decarbonisation cluster, known as HyNet, the initiative is poised to commence construction on HPP1 in 2024, with the commencement of low-carbon hydrogen production expected on-site by 2027.
