In a UK first, Essar Oil UK plans to build a £45 million furnace at Stanlow that can run on hydrogen.
With this achievement, Essar is one step closer to its goal of becoming the first low-carbon refinery in the United Kingdom. Since last month, Essar and Vertex Hydrogen have launched a joint venture in which they plan to invest $1 billion over five years to reduce emissions, including new hydrogen production plants at Stanlow in the HyNet North West decarbonization cluster.
In this plan, three existing furnaces will be decommissioned and replaced by one new, highly efficient furnace with a chimney that rises to a height of about 71 meters. Future-proofing to allow for future use of sustainable fuels like hydrogen is one of the many benefits of the plan, which includes lower carbon emissions due to gas-only firing and new burners that emit less Nitrogen Oxide (NOx). Currently, the furnace is being built in Thailand, but it will be delivered soon. Upon arrival, the furnace will be nearly complete, with the largest module measuring 26.5 meters in length, 18.5 meters in height, and 14.5 meters in width.
Investing £45 million in a new furnace, the company is taking a major step toward reducing the amount of carbon emissions it produces. As the first of its kind at a refinery in the United Kingdom, the furnace will run solely on hydrogen. Compared to existing furnaces, it has a 4% improvement in energy efficiency, saving 16,600 tonnes of CO2 per year and reducing ongoing maintenance costs.
The furnace will be ready for use in 2022, when it is finally installed. Hydrogen produced in Stanlow as part of the HyNet North West decarbonization cluster will be used as fuel starting in 2026. The world’s first and largest blue hydrogen production plant will be built in Stanlow by Essar’s new joint venture, Vertex Hydrogen. As part of the project’s low-carbon transition, hydrogen will be used on-site and distributed to nearby industrial businesses.
