The INEOS Group has announced intentions to build a low-carbon hydrogen production facility and has requested contractors to submit ideas.
The plant will help the British chemicals company’s green transition efforts at its Grangemouth refinery and petrochemicals center, where it has already invested over £500 million in current projects.
This includes funding for a new energy plant that will cut CO2 emissions by 150,000 tonnes per year when it comes online in late 2023.
The proposals’ cost and scope have yet to be revealed.
Access to locally produced hydrogen, according to the company, will help assets at its Grangemouth facility, such as the current combined heat and power plant, the KG ethylene plant, and assets in the Petroineos Refinery.
CO2 from the hydrogen factory will be delivered directly offshore through existing gas pipes, where it will be permanently deposited in rock formations deep beneath the North Sea.
The design scope also includes the potential to connect hydrogen production to local third parties in order to enable the creation of a local hydrogen hub.
“This will see the displacement of hydrocarbon fuels used at Grangemouth, such as natural gas, with clean, low carbon hydrogen to power our operations and create important materials needed across a wide variety of industries,” said Stuart Collings, chief executive of INEOS UK.
“This is an amazing development and an essential step ahead for our facility,” said Andrew Gardner, chief executive and chairman of the Grangemouth plant. We’re committed to reducing our own emissions to zero by 2045, developing technologies that will help others do the same, and leading the clean hydrogen revolution.”