World leading Hydrogen plant proposed for Humber

Industrial giant and company, Equinor has announced plans to deliver one of the world’s first at-scale facilities to produce hydrogen from natural gas in combination with carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Hull.

The project, named Hydrogen to Humber Saltend (H2H Saltend), is expected start on site in 2024 – subject to final investment decisions and be operational by 2026.

The site which is located at Saltend Chemical Park will first become home to a 600 megawatt auto thermal reformer with carbon capture, which will enable it to supply low carbon hydrogen fuel to Triton power station located on the park, result, reducing emissions from Saltend Chemicals Park by nearly 900,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

It’s hoped that the scheme will also mark the beginning of a decarbonised industrial cluster in the Humber region, which is already a centre for offshore wind thanks to Siemens Gamesa plant.

Later phases of the project are expected to expand it to serve other industrial users in the Park and across the Humber. As well as enabling a large-scale hydrogen network, open to both blue hydrogen (produced from natural gas with CCS) and green hydrogen (produced from electrolysis of water using renewable power), as well as a network for transporting and storing captured CO2 emissions.

Al Cook, executive vice president and Equinor’s UK country manager said: “As the UK’s leading supplier of energy, we’re proud of the role our natural gas and offshore wind has played in reducing carbon emissions in power. Now we want to go further by bringing hydrogen to the Humber region. With our partners, we plan to transform the UK’s largest industrial cluster into its greenest cluster.”

Speaking exclusively to TheBusinessDesk.com he added: “We believe the Humber represents an unparalleled opportunity for the UK. It is the largest industrial cluster with its companies employing tens of thousands and providing substantial economic benefits to the UK. And these industries together have the ability, drive and expertise to decarbonise and support the UK in reaching net zero while protecting jobs and driving inwards investment. We’re pleased to be partnering with them to deliver a Zero Carbon Humber and the H2H Saltend project provides a fitting starting point for this journey.”

Geoff Holmes, chief executive officer of px Group, which owns and operates the Saltend Chemicals Park added, “px Group is delighted to be supporting H2H Saltend, a landmark project for UK energy transition. We are fully committed to helping industry reach net zero and both CCS and hydrogen will play a huge part in that. We’re looking forward to collaborating with all the project partners as we work towards this common goal.”

The decision by Equinor to lead the project has also been welcomed from the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, its chair Stephen Parnaby OBE, said, “We are delighted to welcome Equinor’s plans for Saltend and the wider Humber industrial cluster, which would be a huge step forward for our ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions in the region by 2040.

“The Humber is leading the way on this vital agenda, which will help to secure the sustainability of our critical industries and create more new green jobs for the long term.

“The cluster plan we are developing with CATCH and industry will show how projects such as this will enable the Humber to become the world’s first net zero industrial cluster and support the wider growth of the region’s economy.”

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