EET Fuels Pioneers Decarbonisation with £45m Hydrogen-Ready Furnace at Stanlow Refinery
Key Ideas
  • EET Fuels has installed a hydrogen-ready furnace at the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, aiming to become the world's first decarbonised refinery.
  • The £45m furnace, operational since August 2022, will transition to using hydrogen by 2028 from the HyNet hub on-site, significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
  • The project, criticized by some for its carbon capture and storage scale, aims to cut 95% of carbon emissions by 2030 and improve air quality at the refinery.
  • Once fully operational, the hydrogen furnace is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 200,000 tons annually, marking a significant step towards sustainable energy production.
EET Fuels has taken a major step towards transforming the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port into the 'world's first decarbonised refinery' by installing a £45 million hydrogen-ready furnace. This furnace, delivered in August 2022, is now fully operational and will initially use conventional fuel until 2028 when it will switch to hydrogen provided by the HyNet hub on the same site. The refinery, a vital part of the UK's energy infrastructure, currently emits around 2 million tons of CO2 annually, with the 'catcracker' furnace alone responsible for almost half of these emissions. By adopting hydrogen as a clean energy source, EET Fuels aims to significantly reduce its carbon footprint. Critics question the feasibility of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) aspect of the project, labeling it as a tactic to prolong fossil fuel use. Despite this skepticism, EET Fuels remains committed to achieving a 95% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. The installation of the hydrogen-ready furnace represents a crucial milestone in the company's decarbonisation strategy, with expectations of substantial environmental benefits including improved air quality and reduced NOX emissions. This innovative approach to energy production aligns with the broader industry shift towards sustainability and renewable energy sources, setting a positive example for the future of refinery operations.
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