UK's largest hydrogen plant approved by planners

The facility, situated at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, is poised to become a significant player in the country's shift towards cleaner energy solutions.

The 'hydrogen hub' comprises two plants. It will produce low carbon hydrogen fuel by reforming natural gas, capturing 97% of CO2 emissions, and then storing it as part of a nationally significant infrastructure project. The hub is expected to reduce the North West's carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes annually and EET Hydrogen anticipates the project will generate more than one gigawatt of low carbon hydrogen, equivalent to powering a city the size of Liverpool.

Equally, with energy security becoming a pressing issue following supply side shocks from the Russia/Ukraine war, the ability for Britain to become more energy independent by creating hydrogen energy in-country becomes an attractive prospect for foreign investment,

EET will develop the hub in phases, starting with a 350MW capacity plant and eventually targeting over 4,000MW by 2030, with the hydrogen produced pegged to be used locally by industries, including the Essar refinery, Tata Chemicals, Encirc, and Pilkington.

However, the approval of this pioneering project has not been without controversy. The green credentials of hydrogen production, particularly the 'blue hydrogen' method employed here, involves using natural gas, with carbon emissions captured and stored,  which some critics argue is not sufficiently eco-friendly.

Councillor John Roach, representing the Green Party for Whitby Park, expressed concerns at the meeting, arguing that relying on hydrogen as a fossil fuel substitute could hinder the UK's progress towards carbon net zero.

Despite these concerns, the hydrogen hub is seen as a vital step in the North West’s journey to net zero. The project, forming a central part of the HyNet North West Project, aims to develop infrastructure for low carbon hydrogen production, transportation, and storage across the North West and North Wales.

The development has been made, in part, possible by groups like the Hydrogen Energy Association, who have been campaigning for the hydrogen economy in the UK. It has brought together over 70 low carbon hydrogen production projects, highlighting the burgeoning hydrogen economy. Notable projects include the Aberdeen H2 Hub, Cromarty Hydrogen Hub, and Lowestoft hydrogen production facility, with the first wave of large-scale electrolytic hydrogen projects expected to be operational by 2025.

While the UK's largest hydrogen plant opening marks a significant stride towards a greener future and energy independence, it also brings to the fore the complex debate surrounding the environmental impact of hydrogen production methods.