An excellent and innovative combined heat and power plant (CHP) is due to be built at Europe’s Stanlow refinery. This plant will be Europe’s first hydrogen-ready version of this technology and currently, it is on track to be completed for 2027.

The plan thus far, is for EET Hydrogen Power to be developed during two phases, with the aim of it reaching a capacity of 125 MW of power with 6,000 tonnes of steam produced every day. Alongside this, the hydrogen used within this process, replaces hydrocarbons and consequently delivers a reduction of 740,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide on an annual basis.

The companies involved, have decided that the new plant will replace Stanlow’s existing boiler units, as at the moment these units generate an estimated 50MW of power for the refinery operations. Another reason for this, is that the plant is integral to the decarbonisation of operations at EET Fuels’ Stanlow refinery, aligning with the plan to cut total emissions by 95% by 2030, with the aim of becoming the world’s lowest carbon refinery.

EET Fuel’s ambition to become the lowest carbon process refinery globally, along with EET Hydrogen’s ambition to become the leading low carbon hydrogen producer in the UK, will both be supported by Essar Energy Transition’s (EET) investment. The investment will also provide low carbon power to other industrial users which are located within the region and this low carbon power will be used to support companies and projects reaching their decarbonisation targets. At the same time, the plan for EET Hydrogen Power, is for it to become an independent vertical under EET.

As well as the work it is doing for these projects, EET Hydrogen Power fully supports the decarbonisation plans of the wider HyNet industrial cluster, whilst simultaneously forming a blue print that can be used in future industrial and power decarbonisation.

The company has stated that, ‘The investment into building Europe’s first hydrogen ready power plant is a key part of EET’s overall $3.0 billion of energy transition initiatives in the North West of England.’

The parties included within EET are, EET Hydrogen Power; EET Fuels (which is the owner of the Stanlow Refinery); EET Hydrogen, (which is developing 1.35+ gigawatt (GW) of blue and green hydrogen capacity for the UK market, with follow-on capacity ambition of 4GW); and Stanlow Terminals Ltd, which is the UK’s largest independent bulk liquid storage terminal (which is developing enabling transport and storage infrastructure for biofuels and new energies).

Chief Executive Officer of EET Hydrogen Power, Rob Wallace, commented, “We have bold ambitions for Stanlow to become a low carbon transition hub at the centre of the HyNet Industrial Cluster. 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.”

Managing Partner of Essar Energy Transition, Tony Fountain, added, “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. EET Hydrogen Power helps bring this commitment to life and demonstrates our intention to globally showcase the pathway to decarbonising vital high emitting industries.”