With Progressive Energy, Essar has formed Vertex Hydrogen Limited, a game-changing new joint venture to build the UK’s largest hydrogen hub at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex.
Vertex Hydrogen was founded with Essar as the majority shareholder to serve as a catalyst for the development of a hydrogen economy in North West England and North Wales as part of the HyNet decarbonisation cluster.
This initiative is a key component of Essar’s global strategy to focus on investing in energy transition through portfolio company transformation and new venture investments.
From 2026, the UK’s first low-carbon hydrogen facility, at Essar Stanlow, will be at the heart of the HyNet low-carbon cluster, producing a total of 1GW of hydrogen per year across two units.
Vertex Hydrogen will convert waste fuel gases from Essar Stanlow and natural gas into hydrogen, with carbon dioxide safely captured and stored underground in Liverpool Bay by HyNet partner Eni SpA. The hydrogen production hub will generate low-carbon energy to replace fossil fuels in industry throughout the HyNet region, as well as heat homes and fuel buses, trains, and trucks.
The hydrogen production hub will be built with a total investment of around one billion pounds.
Essar will use the hydrogen produced in the first instance to reduce its carbon footprint at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex. Vertex will also supply low-carbon hydrogen to a variety of businesses, including those in the chemical, ceramics, paper, glass, and flexible power generation industries.
