Essar Energy Transition (EET) has announced plans to build Europe's first hydrogen-ready combined heat and power plant at its Stanlow refinery, marking a significant step towards decarbonizing industrial operations in the UK.
Scheduled for completion by 2027, the 125MW EET Hydrogen Power plant aims to transform Stanlow into a low carbon transition hub within the HyNet Industrial Cluster. The project is part of EET's broader $3 billion investment into energy transition initiatives in north-west England.
Tony Fountain, Managing Partner at EET, highlighted the project's strategic importance: “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.”
Rob Wallace, CEO of EET Hydrogen Power, underscored the plant's innovative approach: “EET Hydrogen Power will be Europe's first 100% 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.”
The plant's development will occur in two phases, ultimately generating 125MW of power and producing 6000 tonnes per day of steam. It is expected to replace Stanlow's existing boiler units, significantly cutting emissions. The refinery aims to reduce total emissions by 95% by 2030, positioning itself as the world's lowest carbon refinery.
EET Hydrogen Power is set to support not only EET Fuels' ambition to achieve low carbon process refining globally but also to supply low carbon power to neighboring industrial users, facilitating their own decarbonization efforts.
