Stanlow (UK), Apr 30 (UNI) Essar Energy Transition’s (EET) UK arm, EET Fuels, on Wednesday announced that it has commissioned the country’s first hydrogen-ready furnace at its Stanlow refinery, marking a major milestone in its roadmap to become a low-carbon refining operation.
The new furnace, which replaces three older units, is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 16,600 tonnes per annum while using refinery off gas. Once fully fuelled by low-carbon hydrogen from EET Hydrogen’s HPP1 plant in 2028, annual emissions savings are projected to reach nearly 200,000 tonnes.
Described as a “significant step” in the company’s decarbonisation strategy, the furnace is capable of operating on 100 percent refinery off gas, a blend of off gas and hydrogen, or entirely on hydrogen. Its installation is a key component of EET Fuels’ broader ambition to eliminate 95 percent — nearly 2 million tonnes — of its carbon emissions by the end of this decade.
The HPP1 hydrogen production plant, currently under development at the HyNet industrial decarbonisation cluster, recently reached financial close. Once operational, it will supply low-carbon hydrogen to the Stanlow site through the Liverpool Bay CO₂ transport and storage system.
“The decommissioning of three old furnaces and commissioning of this new hydrogen-ready unit is a major milestone for EET Fuels,” said Deepak Maheshwari, CEO of EET Fuels. “It not only delivers immediate reductions in CO₂ emissions but sets the foundation for much greater savings once hydrogen fuel is in place.”
Accounting for about 10 per cent of the site’s total energy use, refinery furnaces are essential for heating and separating crude oil into various refined products. The upgraded furnace also improves air quality through reduced nitrogen oxide emissions and enhanced energy efficiency.
EET Fuels is investing around USD 1.2 billion over five years to transform Stanlow into the UK’s first low-carbon refinery. This includes energy efficiency upgrades, fuel switching, and industrial carbon capture — collectively targeting a reduction equivalent to 12.5 per cent of the North West’s total regional emissions.
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