PLANS to create the UK's first low carbon hydrogen hub at Ellesmere Port have moved one step closer with the announcement of a key partnership.

Ellesmere Port's Essar Oil has teamed up with Progressive Energy in a joint venture which will manufacture hydrogen at the refinery for use across the region.

It will provide Essar Oil UK with low carbon hydrogen to decarbonise its own energy demand in addition to creating a hydrogen economy across North West England and North East Wales.

Natural gas, and fuel gases from the refinery, will be converted into low carbon hydrogen, with carbon dioxide safely captured and stored offshore in sub-surface reservoirs in Liverpool Bay.

Progressive Energy are the developers of HyNet North West, the UK’s leading industrial decarbonisation cluster.

The hydrogen production hub will deliver clean energy to industry in the HyNet ‘low carbon cluster’, as well as to fuel buses, trains and heavy goods vehicles, to heat homes, and to generate electricity when the sun is not shining or the wind blowing.

The UK’s first low carbon hydrogen hub will initially produce 3 terawatt-hours (TWh) of low carbon hydrogen each year from 2025.

This will be quickly followed by a facility twice this size, giving a total capacity of over 9TWh of hydrogen per annum, equivalent to the energy used for heating across the whole of Liverpool.

A total investment of approximately £750m will be committed to deliver the two hydrogen production hubs.

Follow-on capacity growth is planned to reach 80 per cent of the Government’s new target of 5GW of low carbon hydrogen for power, transport, industry and homes by 2030.

In partnership with SNC-Lavalin, engineering is well advanced with funding provided by the UK Government’s hydrogen supply competition.

The agreement between Essar and Progressive Energy provides the basis to take the project through final development and into construction and operation, with the project jointly delivered by the two companies.

Progressive Energy originated the HyNet North West decarbonisation cluster, and Essar’s downstream energy activities in the area provide a natural structure for delivery.

Chris Manson-Whitton, director at Progressive Energy, said: “We cannot reach net zero without decarbonising industry. Today brings a key milestone in that journey as Progressive Energy and Essar Oil UK sign a Memorandum of Understanding setting out how we will work together to deliver this exciting project at Stanlow Refinery.

“Delivering net zero requires a transformation of our energy system. HyNet offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create real change in energy production and consumption, creating a cleaner world for future generations.

"It will unlock the low carbon hydrogen economy in the North West, reducing emissions and creating and safeguarding jobs.”

Stein Ivar Bye, Chief Executive Officer of Essar Oil UK, added: “Essar is committed to innovative growth as a means to create positive impact to both economy and environment.

"HyNet and hydrogen production is integral to Stanlow’s strategy and will set it on a journey to be the UK’s first net zero emission refinery with the ambition to avoid emissions of over two million tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere per year, the equivalent of taking nearly a million cars off the road.

“With the support from government to establish the appropriate business incentives, together with Progressive Energy, we are committed to undertaking the development and the financing of its construction.

“Hydrogen has a central role to play in our low carbon energy solution. We are demonstrating that the industry is committed to play its part of the UK’s transformational hydrogen strategy.”

Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port & Neston, said: “Hydrogen is going to play an incredibly important part in the future of our economy and I hope that Ellesmere Port will play a central role in the green jobs revolution we need to meet the challenge of climate change.

"Essar has had a presence in the area for the last decade and the signing of this agreement with Progressive Energy means that it will be here for many decades to come.”

Philip Cox, Chief Executive of the Cheshire & Warrington LEP, said: “The signing of this agreement is great news for Essar and Progressive Energy. It reaffirms the LEP’s belief that Cheshire and Warrington is at the forefront of developing a new hydrogen economy, and that with industrial partnerships such as this, we can support decarbonisation of key energy-intensive industries, helping government deliver its ambition for a green industrial revolution.”

Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “This agreement marks a major step towards achieving our ambitions for a carbon-neutral borough in Cheshire West and Chester. It will introduce innovative and world leading technology, a focus for investment in low carbon manufacturing, and create long-term green jobs for the residents of Ellesmere Port and beyond.”