HyNet North West has received £72m in funding to help the North West become the UK’s first low carbon industrial cluster. Hydrogen is an essential component of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.

From 2025, HyNet North West will begin to convert natural gas into low carbon hydrogen at Stanlow Refinery, with carbon dioxide safely captured and stored offshore in the Liverpool Bay gas fields.  A new pipeline network will transport the clean hydrogen to power industry, fuel buses, trains and heavy goods vehicles, to generate electricity, and to heat homes across North West England and North Wales.

HyNet North West will reduce regional carbon dioxide emissions by up to 10 million tonnes every year by 2030 – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.  By then, HyNet North West alone will already be delivering 80% of the Government’s new UK-wide target of 5GW of low carbon hydrogen for power, transport, industry and homes.

The project will kick start a low carbon hydrogen economy, protecting and creating jobs, setting the region on course to be the world leader in clean energy innovation.

Professor Joe Howe, Chair of the NWHA and Executive Director of the Thornton Energy Research Institute, University of Chester, said:

“I am delighted with today’s announcement which confirms UK support for HyNet North West. We have supported the HyNet proposition since its inception in 2016 and I proud of the work that we have done in demonstrating how the North West  can take advantage of the opportunities afforded by hydrogen energy and carbon capture, utilisation and storage. We have a ready-made supply chain to build the infrastructure required and I am excited for our members who are committed to the opportunities afforded by flagship exemplar of building back better and greener.”

The Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy was also announced today. A £1bn fund will be used to cut industrial emissions by two thirds and generate 80,000 jobs.