In a significant step for the North West, Cheshire West & Chester Council has given the green light for the development of the UK’s first-ever low carbon Hydrogen Production Plant (HPP). This project has the potential to unlock substantial investments forecasted to be in the billions.

Located at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex in Ellesmere Port, the facility, operated by EET Hydrogen, is poised to transform nearby industrial businesses such as Essar, Tata Chemicals, and Encirc into the world’s pioneering low carbon refining and manufacturing sites. The development forms a central part of the HyNet North West project.

Ged Barlow, CEO of Net Zero North West, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative: “The approval for the UK’s first low carbon HPP plant is a monumental leap towards a sustainable future for our region.

“It plays a crucial role in the North West's path to achieving net zero, supporting HyNet and offering regional manufacturers the chance to lower their carbon footprint while bolstering employment opportunities across the UK.”“It plays a crucial role in the North West's path to achieving net zero, supporting HyNet and offering regional manufacturers the chance to lower their carbon footprint while bolstering employment opportunities across the UK.”

The hub, comprising two plants, HPP1 and HPP2, will empower local industrial and power generation businesses to transition from low carbon energy sources, playing a pivotal role in reducing the North West’s carbon footprint by a staggering 2.5 million tonnes annually – that’s roughly equal to removing 1.1 million cars from the roads each year.

To find out more about this exciting project, click here.