Construction contract awarded for Cheshire low carbon hydrogen production facility

Turkish-firm, ENKA, has been awarded the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to deliver a low carbon hydrogen production plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, that will support industrial businesses in North-west to decarbonise operations.

Essar Energy Transition (EET) Hydrogen awarded the contract for its flagship HPP1 plant at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex. The facility will sit at the heart of HyNet, the North-west’s proposed hydrogen infrastructure and low-carbon industrial cluster.

Once operational, the facility will have a production capacity of 350MW and will capture around 600,000 tonnes of CO2 a year – the equivalent to taking around 250,000 cars off the road. Funding for the project was agreed by the UK government to support HPP1 in October 2024.

The wider HyNet Cluster and hydrogen production and distribution infrastructure will enable industrial businesses in Cheshire and throughout the North West of England to decarbonise their operations, protecting jobs and driving economic growth. Hydrogen production facilities will also be connected directly to Manchester Airport, making it the first UK airport with a direct supply of low carbon hydrogen fuel.

Joe Seifert, CEO of EET Hydrogen, said:

“Following a highly competitive tender process, we are excited to announce this critical contract with ENKA.  Having been awarded over 580 contracts in 57 countries, ENKA has an excellent track record in delivering complex projects like HPP1.  The team brings a wealth of experience, and we are delighted to partner with as we deliver on our ambition to become the UK’s premier producer of low carbon hydrogen.”

Hakan Kozan, Member of the Executive Committee at ENKA, said:

“We are thrilled to partner with EET Hydrogen on the HPP1 project, a transformative initiative that will play a key role in advancing the UK’s low carbon hydrogen industry and contributing to global decarbonisation efforts. 

“As a global engineering and construction company, we bring expertise, engineered solutions, and a commitment to excellence to every project we undertake. This project reinforces our commitment to supporting the HyNet Cluster’s mission of reducing emissions and fostering sustainable economic growth.  We look forward to delivering a safe and successful project for our distinguished customer.”