EET Fuels advances hydrogen project at Stanlow Refinery with Wood

EET Fuels, the trading name of Essar Oil UK, has reached a significant milestone in its mission to create the world’s leading low-carbon process refinery by progressing to the front-end engineering design (FEED) stage for its Hydrogen Fuel Switching project. This initiative is central to EET Fuels’ strategy to decarbonise the Stanlow Refinery in the UK and reduce carbon emissions by 95% by 2030.

The Stanlow Refinery is located in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, on the south bank of the Manchester Ship Canal in the United Kingdom. The refinery was originally established by Shell in 1924, starting as a bitumen plant before expanding into a full-scale crude oil refinery by 1952. It played a crucial role during World War II, producing aviation spirit essential for the war effort.

In 2011, the refinery was acquired by Essar Oil UK from Shell, and since then, Essar has invested significantly in modernising the facility. Today, the refinery is operated by Essar Energy Transition (EET), a subsidiary of Essar Group focused on creating a low-carbon future for the site.

The Stanlow Refinery, one of the UK’s largest and most complex refineries, processes approximately 10 million tonnes of crude oil annually and supplies a significant portion of the UK’s road transport fuels. The hydrogen fuel switching project is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of this critical national asset while supporting the UK’s energy security and resilience.

The Hydrogen Fuel Switching project will enable EET Fuels to transition from natural gas and refinery off-gas to hydrogen as the primary fuel source for its refinery operations. A key component of this project is the installation of the UK’s first hydrogen-ready crude distiller furnace, capable of operating on 100% hydrogen or a fuel-gas mix. Once fully operational, the furnace will reduce emissions at the Stanlow Refinery by 0.2 million tonnes per year.

EET Fuels has appointed Wood, a global leader in consulting and engineering, to conduct the FEED phase. This phase will involve the final design of the fuel system, core infrastructure, and control systems needed for the efficient and safe combustion of hydrogen. The completion of FEED will pave the way for a final investment decision (FID) in 2025, which will mark the next step in the project’s development.

“We have groundbreaking plans for EET Fuels in the UK, with the Stanlow Refinery at its heart. Hydrogen Fuel Switching is an integral part of these plans,” said Deepak Maheshwari, CEO of EET Fuels. “Conducting the FEED alongside a great partner in Wood will allow us to confidently move forward to the final investment decision.”