Essar to build Europe’s first hydrogen-fuelled power plant

ELLESMERE PORT, July 12, 2024 – Essar Energy Transition will build Europe’s first 100% hydrogen-fuelled power plant at its Stanlow refinery in the UK, the company said on Friday.

The EET Hydrogen Power combined heat and power plant is scheduled for completion in 2027, with operations to begin in 2028 or 2029.

The development is part of the HyNet Industrial Cluster, a regional decarbonisation hub. It falls under EET’s overall USD 3-billion investment in energy transition initiatives in the northwest of England.

The plant will have a capacity of 125 MW. By replacing hydrocarbons with hydrogen feedstock, it will deliver a reduction of 740,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, EET said.

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

“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 benefits by contributing to regional emissions’ reductions targets.”

Photo of a hydrogen-enabled furnace at the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, UK, courtesy of Essar Energy Transition.