The North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA) is supporting the UK North West’s aim to become one of the regions first carbon capture clusters.
The NWHA, who represents 30 of the UK’s most influential organisations behind the hydrogen economy, has called on the Government to support HyNet North West in the upcoming carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) sequencing competition.
Should the UK Government support the project, the North West of the UK could become a hydrogen hub with significant investment in the clean gas set to be introduced.
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, NWHA suggests that the project is vital for levelling up the UK and essential to the delivery of the Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.
Carbon capture has been identified as a significant technology to support the introduction of hydrogen by reducing carbon emissions emitted from using non-green hydrogen.
The HyNet project can deliver over three-quarters of the Government’s 2030 target for hydrogen production and 100% of the target for carbon dioxide.
Able to benefit from the existing regional technical skill base in engineering, chemicals production, refining and offshore oil and gas, HyNet North West could be operational as early as 2025.
Professor Joe Howe, Chair of the NWHA and Executive Director, Thornton Research Institute at the University of Chester, said, “CCUS is essential to the development of a hydrogen economy in the UK.
“It will enable blue hydrogen to be developed quickly and at scale, unlocking the hydrogen transportation and storage infrastructure which green hydrogen can then readily connect into.”
Myles Kitcher, Executive Director, Peel NRE, part of Peel L&P said, “HyNet North West is a genuine regional decarbonisation solution.
“Not focused on one key anchor energy project it has the potential to link together the multitude of low carbon projects across the region and beyond, from hydrogen to energy from waste to industrial processes.
“Doing this will not only futureproof existing industry, it will safeguard and create thousands of jobs.”
