- The UK Government commits £20bn for early deployment of carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS).
- Essar will invest $3.6 billion in low carbon energy projects over the next five years, with $2.4 billion at the Stanlow site.
- Vertex Hydrogen will produce 350MW of hydrogen by 2026, capturing 600,000 tonnes of CO2 using HyNet's infrastructure.
- Vertex is progressing a second plant (HPP2) for 700MW, with Front-End-Engineering-Design to be completed in 2023.
Government Funding and Support
The UK Government has committed up to £20bn for the early deployment of carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) to meet climate goals. This funding supports private investment and job creation, particularly in the North West of England.
Essar's Investment Plans
Essar has launched Essar Energy Transition (EET) to invest $3.6 billion in low carbon energy projects over the next five years. Of this, $2.4 billion will be allocated to the Stanlow site in Ellesmere Port, located between Liverpool and Manchester.
Vertex Hydrogen Project
Vertex Hydrogen aims to produce 350MW of hydrogen by 2026, making it one of the UK's leading low carbon hydrogen businesses. The project will capture and store 600,000 tonnes of CO2 using HyNet's carbon-capture infrastructure, equivalent to removing around 250,000 cars from the road.
Future Developments
Vertex is also advancing a second plant (HPP2) for 700MW, with Front-End-Engineering-Design expected to be completed in 2023. This positions Vertex as a key player in building a broader hydrogen economy in the North West.
Broader Strategy
EET's strategy includes developing 1 gigawatt (GW) of low carbon hydrogen for the UK market, with future capacity reaching 3.8GW. Additionally, EET is working on 1 GW of green ammonia in India and 1 MT of low carbon biofuels. The Stanlow refinery aims to achieve a 75% reduction in carbon emissions by the end of the decade and net zero by 2040.
