New underground pipeline could pass through Runcorn

Cadent’s HyNet North West Hydrogen Pipeline will take hydrogen produced at the Stanlow Refinery in Ellesmere Port to industrial users and power generators across the north west, supporting the switch away from natural gas to a low carbon economy in the region.

This project has the potential to prevent 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year being emitted into the atmosphere by 2030.

It will also secure existing high skilled employment in the region and introduce new green jobs for future generations.

Cadent has identified potential route corridors for the pipeline.

Moore and Daresbury could form part of the 'north corridor', while the 'west corridor' extends to Weston Point. 

The pipeline will extend as far afield as Northwich, St Helens and Partington.

Residents are now being asked to help Cadent develop the route of the pipeline and sites for other related infrastructure.

The consultation will run until 11.59pm on March 11. Cadent has launched an online consultation hub (www.hynethydrogenpipeline.co.uk) where people can find out more about the project and provide feedback. The project will also be holding eight in-person events across the project area and two webinars.

Rob Donovan, Cadent head of project delivery for HyNet said: “We are interested to hear any information that might help us identify the best route for the pipeline.

"Although the pipeline will largely be underground and will not be routed underneath any homes, there will be some above ground installations. Therefore, we want to understand areas that are important to local people so we can continue to develop the project including our future construction plans in the most appropriate way.

“As the region’s gas distribution network, we’re committed to supporting a Net Zero Carbon future. This project will help achieve that and we’re excited to be sharing our early plans with people."

The pipeline will be part of the HyNet North West low carbon cluster, an innovative low carbon and hydrogen energy project that will unlock a low carbon economy for the North West and North Wales.

HyNet will support some of the North West’s biggest businesses and employers by delivering and maintaining thousands of jobs for local people and helping the region lead the way in the UK’s transition to Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

The Essar oil refinery at Stanlow, Ellesmere Port

Earlier this week Essar has announced it has formed Vertex Hydrogen Limited, a transformative new joint venture with Progressive Energy, to build the UK’s largest hydrogen hub at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex.

Led by Essar as the majority shareholder, Vertex Hydrogen has been formed to provide the catalyst for development of a hydrogen economy across North West England and North Wales, as a central part of the HyNet decarbonisation cluster.

The UK’s first low carbon hydrogen facility at Essar Stanlow will sit at the heart of the HyNet low carbon cluster, to produce a total of 1GW per year of hydrogen, across two units, from 2026. This is equivalent to the domestic heating energy used by a major British city region, such as Liverpool.

Waste fuel gases from Essar Stanlow, and natural gas, will be converted by Vertex Hydrogen into hydrogen, with carbon dioxide safely captured and stored by HyNet partner Eni SpA, underground offshore in Liverpool Bay.