EET Hydrogen is aiming for its 350MW hydrogen plant to begin the construction phase later on in 2024. The HPP1 low-carbon plant will be located in Ellesmere, in the UK and it will initially be capable of producing 350MW. The project is currently in final negotiation stages with the UK Government’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.

The HPP1 initiative reached their current production stage through approval by Chesire West and Chester Council. This makes the next step approval from the UK government, which will then lead to the building and construction phase. This final decision from the UK government is expected to be announced later in 2024.

The aim for the facility will be to capture 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually and it is also expected to support the UK hydrogen industry, plus the HyNet Cluster and finally the new plant will help the EET reach their goal of 4GW of low-carbon hydrogen by 2030. Another benefit of this new plant, will be that the hydrogen it produces will go to industrial businesses that are located in the UK’s northwest.

Minster for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Lord Callanan, spoke about the progress the UK has already made in halving its emissions from 1990 levels, and he said that he believes hydrogen will be a “vital role” that is required throughout the journey to Net Zero. Callanan commented, “By moving into final negotiations with the Ellesmere project, we are working to deliver our ambition of up to 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity, in an industry expected to support up to 12,000 jobs by 2030.”

Managing Partner of EET, Tony Fountain, spoke about the outcome of the new plant being positive for both the UK and EET. He added that, “Scaling hydrogen capacity is essential to decarbonising heavy industries. We appreciate the Government’s partnership which will contribute to protecting skilled jobs in the region and ensuring our industries remain competitive.”