A furnace capable of running on hydrogen has arrived at Liverpool Port. The furnace, which is part of a multimillion-pound investment by Essar Oil UK (EOUK), is heading for Stanlow in Ellesmere Port and will become the first hydrogen-powered furnace of its kind in the UK.
The furnace is vital in supporting the decarbonisation of Essar Stanlow’s operations. The furnace, which was commissioned by EOUK earlier in 2022 arrived by boat on June 20 and is part of Essar’s long-standing commitment to become the UK’s first low-carbon refinery.
A UK first, the furnace is unique in that it will run off 100 percent hydrogen fuel from 2026. It will run on hydrogen produced as part of the HyNet, the UK’s leading decarbonisation cluster. The furnace will replace three existing furnaces, helping Essar to drastically decarbonise its operations and cut emissions.
The largest single module is 26.5 m long, 18.5 m tall, and 14.5 m wide. The furnace will improve energy efficiency onsite and reduce ongoing maintenance costs. Once its fuel source is 100 percent hydrogen, the furnace has the potential to cut 242 000 t of CO2 emissions every year.
The largest module of the furnace will be transported to Essar in late summer 2022 via the Manchester Canal and will become fully operational in 2023.
The furnace forms a central part of Essar’s plan at Stanlow to become the UK’s first low-carbon refinery. As well as playing a leading role in the HyNet consortium, Essar is investing in a number of energy efficiency, low-carbon energy, and carbon storage initiatives.
Hydrogen used by the new furnace from 2026 will be produced on-site at Stanlow by Vertex Hydrogen, a joint venture launched in January 2022 between Essar and Progressive Energy.
Deepak Maheshwari, chief executive officer at Essar Oil UK, said: “We are pleased that the furnace has arrived in the Port of Liverpool. We have embarked on a major investment programme to upgrade Essar’s infrastructure and future-proof our organisation as leaders in the transition to low-carbon and this furnace is one of many steps being taken to become the UK’s first low-carbon refinery.
“The future of decarbonised energy is being built and we are playing a key role in supporting the UK’s plans for building the low carbon economy of tomorrow.”
Claudio Veritiero, CEO of Peel Ports, said: “We are delighted to have played a key role in this important project, as a leading and sustainable Port operator we fully support the transition to hydrogen and the benefits this will bring in the reduction of carbon emissions.
“We’re proud to have worked with Essar and other partners to deliver this important element of the project which will position Liverpool and the Northwest at the forefront of greener energy production. This fits perfectly with our own ambition to become a net-zero Port operator by 2040.”
For more information visit www.essaroil.co.uk
