Essar Energy Transition (EET) has extended its congratulations to Eni and the UK Government for reaching financial close on the core carbon transport and storage initiative within the HyNet Industrial Cluster (Liverpool Bay CCS project). EET expressed enthusiasm about the start of Eni’s construction phase, which will deliver critical infrastructure for HyNet — a key step toward achieving significant carbon emission reductions, attracting essential investment, and supporting job growth and industrial development across North West England and North Wales.
EET’s Hydrogen Production Plant 1 (HPP1) is among the first four projects that will supply carbon dioxide for permanent storage via this infrastructure. HPP1 is set to become the UK’s first large-scale low-carbon hydrogen facility, featuring a production capacity of 350MW and capturing around 600,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually — the equivalent of removing 125,000 cars from the roads.
Located at the center of the HyNet project, EET’s Stanlow Manufacturing Complex — led by the EET Fuels refinery — will serve as a major offtaker and a critical enabler for HPP1. The projects announced today mark significant progress in transforming Stanlow into a global energy transition hub, capable of capturing approximately 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions from the refinery through an integrated decarbonization program. This broader strategy includes initiatives like electrification, carbon capture, the development of a second Hydrogen Production Plant (HPP2), and the advancement of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. Stanlow is also poised to become a key facilitator for other low-carbon, high-tech businesses, leveraging the region’s growing hydrogen and carbon capture infrastructure.
Tony Fountain, Managing Partner of Essar Energy Transition, congratulated Eni and the UK Government on achieving a major milestone, calling the HyNet CO₂ pipeline a transformative development for North West industry. He highlighted that it strengthens Stanlow’s position as an energy transition hub and creates significant growth opportunities, supporting its ambition to become one of Europe’s leading decarbonized refineries while ensuring long-term UK fuel security.
Joe Seifert, CEO of EET Hydrogen, highlighted the role of EET Hydrogen’s HPP1 project as an anchor initiative within HyNet. He noted that the announcement marks an important step forward, providing strong momentum as the company moves toward the construction phase of its flagship project.
