Essar Energy Transition unveils Europe’s first 100% hydrogen power plant
The fossil fuel giant will develop a new energy facility at its Stanlow refinery, helping ‘decarbonise’ heat and power on site.
Hydrogen produced through Essar Energy Transition’s [EET] refinery processes will be converted into power and steam to drive operations. Excess low carbon heat will also be passed on to large scale industrial users in the nearby area.
Developed in two phases, once fully online the technology will have a capacity of 125MW of power and 6,000 tonnes of steam per day. 740,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions will be saved annually through the upgrade, contributing to wider efforts to cut CO2 output at Stanlow by 95% by 2030. This would make it the world’s lowest carbon oil refinery.
The scheme is part of the much-touted HyNet hydrogen-industrial cluster which is rapidly gaining momentum, with a long-term plan of turning North West England into a global green energy leader. EET will spend $3billion on energy transition in the region through Stanlow and associated facilities, including creating Europe’s first hydrogen-ready gas-turbine power plant.
‘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,’ said Tony Fountain, managing partner at EET. ‘EET Hydrogen Power helps bring this commitment to life and demonstrates our intention to globally showcase the pathway to decarbonising vital high emitting industries.’
In May, Environment Journal reported on a new study showing one-fifth of worldwide carbon emissions could be cut if the full potential of hydrogen is realised and ‘green’ hydrogen is fully developed. However, world leaders and industry are still not committing enough resources to this field, and more must be done.
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Image: Essar Energy Transition