Eni and the UK Government have achieved financial close on the core CO2 transport and storage project that underpins the HyNet Cluster – the Liverpool Bay Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
Eni’s construction phase will now begin on the infrastructure enabling HyNet, which will aid reductions in CO2 emissions and enable investment across North West England and North Wales.
Essar Energy Transition (EET) Hydrogen’s HPP1 project is one of the four initial projects that will provide CO2 to this infrastructure for permanent storage. HPP1 is expected to be the UK’s first large, low carbon hydrogen plant with capacity of 350 MW and capturing some 600 000 tpy of CO2 – equivalent to taking 125 000 cars off the road.
EET’s Stanlow Manufacturing Complex is located at the heart of HyNet, anchored by the EET Fuels’ refinery which is a major offtake and enabler of HPP1. EET’s projects, supported by this announcement, are transforming Stanlow into an energy transition hub that can capture around 2 million t from the refinery through its wider decarbonisation programme, which includes electrification and carbon capture, as well as further hydrogen production (HPP2) and development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)s. Stanlow is also expected to play a key role in enabling other low carbon high tech businesses to benefit from the local hydrogen production and CO2 infrastructure.
Tony Fountain, Managing Partner of EET, said: “The HyNet CO2 pipeline is key for industry in the North West, UK, and confirms the unique positioning of our Stanlow Manufacturing Complex as an energy transition hub. This presents huge opportunities for the future growth of North West businesses and ensures Stanlow can pursue its goal of being one of Europe’s leading decarbonised refineries, providing the UK with fuel security for many years.”
Joe Seifert, CEO of EET Hydrogen, added: “We are proud of the position that EET Hydrogen’s HPP1 has as an anchor project in HyNet. This announcement provides great momentum as we progress towards the construction phase of our flagship project.”