Plans approved for UK’s first low-carbon hydrogen production facility in Cheshire

Cheshire will become home to the UK’s first low-carbon hydrogen production facility, following Cheshire West & Chester Council’s approval for plans for the Ellesmere Port scheme.

Planning approval means EET Hydrogen can begin construction of two plants at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port, which will sit at the heart of the North-west’s HyNet hydrogren infrastructure and green manufacturing cluster. Major manufacturers and other carbon-intensive organisations in Cheshire and the wider North-west will be supplied by the site, including the Essar refinery, Tata Chemicals, Encirc and Manchester Airport.

The site’s two production plans will have an overall target capacity of more than 4,000 MW. Through the scheme, it is anticipated the North-west can reduce its annual CO2e emissions by 2.5 million tonnes, the equivalent of removing 1.1 million cars from the road.

Richard Holden, HPP1 Project Manager at EET Hydrogen, said:

“This is the largest low carbon hydrogen project in the UK and one of the most advanced in the world.

“It is a vital piece of the North West’s journey to net zero, underpinning HyNet and providing the opportunity for manufacturers in the region to decarbonise their processes and support UK jobs.

“We have worked closely with regional stakeholders and are delighted to obtain this important approval for the project as we move from ambition to action.”

Plans are being delivered following the award of government funding in March 2023, as part of a £20 billion investment in carbon capture and hydrogen technology.

Construction is now set to begin this year, with the first production plant on the site expected to go live in 2027, with the second, larger plant beginning hydrogen production the following year. The facility is expected to have an overall life-span of 25 years, and once fully operational in 2023 will produce around 40% of the UK’s targeted hydrogen needs.