International energy consultancy Penspen has been awarded a multi-million-pound contract by United Living Infrastructure Services to lead the detailed engineering design of the HyNet CO₂ transportation pipeline at Liverpool Bay. This landmark project is central to transforming the North West of England into a world-leading low-carbon industrial cluster and will shape the region’s energy future for generations.
Under the contract, Penspen will develop the onshore CO₂ pipelines and above-ground installations that will transport carbon emissions captured from industrial sources in Stanlow to the Liverpool Bay carbon capture and storage facility at Point of Ayr. The system will utilise a combination of new infrastructure and repurposed assets to facilitate CO₂ transport to depleted gas reservoirs beneath the Irish Sea.
Seventy engineering specialists from Penspen will support the project from a dedicated base at 280 Holborn, London, including 20 newly recruited professionals specifically for this scope. Further technical support will be provided by Penspen’s growing Aberdeen team, which has experienced significant expansion over the past six months.
Darren Bartlett, director – energy transition at Penspen, commented:
“This is a pivotal award that highlights Penspen’s reputation as specialists in supporting complex energy transition projects, applying over 70 years of international engineering expertise to meet the challenge of decarbonising the UK’s industrial hubs.
The HyNet North West project will be transformational for the UK’s energy network, and we are proud to be working with United Living to deliver this first-of-its-kind project at Liverpool Bay. The development of this carbon capture facility will be critical in driving progress towards a cleaner energy future.”
HyNet North West is a cornerstone project for the UK’s energy transition, aiming to decarbonise the industrial heartlands around Liverpool Bay. Following the announcement of government backing in October 2024, HyNet will deploy large-scale carbon capture and storage and low-carbon hydrogen infrastructure. This includes a hydrogen production plant, transport network, and storage, with captured CO₂ to be sequestered safely offshore.
Campbell Crawford, managing director of United Living Infrastructure Services, stated:
“We are pleased to appoint Penspen to deliver the engineering design on this project. They have an exceptional track record in delivering complex detailed design for onshore pipelines, making them one of the few companies in the UK with the expertise to help us deliver this major energy transition project.”
A New Era for Liverpool Bay – World-First Low-Carbon Industrial District
The planned CO₂ pipeline will run from the Ince Facility in the North West of England, via the Stanlow Refinery, to the Point of Ayr Terminal on the north coast of Wales. The route will include six block valve stations and five above-ground installations supporting the development of a robust, high-pressure CO₂ transportation network.
Once operational, HyNet North West is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 10 million tonnes per year in the 2030s, positioning the region as a global model for low-carbon industrial transformation and significantly contributing to the UK’s net zero targets.
For more information visit www.penspen.com
