H2H Saltend given planning go-ahead

LOW CARBON: Saltend Chemicals Park

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

One of the region’s biggest decarbonisation projects has been granted planning permission.

H2H Saltend has had planning approved by East Riding Council, strengthening its case in forthcoming Government competitions.

Equinor’s H2H Saltend is a 600-megawatt low carbon hydrogen production plant with carbon capture and is one of the first of its kind and scale to be granted planning permission in the UK.

The decision comes at a vital time, as the project prepares for a potential application into the Government’s forthcoming Cluster Sequencing Track-1 Expansion process, which is expected to launch this year. The process will select decarbonisation projects in both the Humber and Teesside that can connect to the East Coast Cluster’s carbon capture transport and storage infrastructure by around 2030.

Sited at Saltend Chemicals Park, to the east of Hull, H2H Saltend will help to reduce the park’s emissions by up to one third.

To achieve this, low carbon hydrogen will be used in chemical processes by both Saltend-based and other nearby companies, as well as directly replacing natural gas in several industrial facilities to reduce the carbon intensity of their products.

Hydrogen from H2H Saltend will also be blended with natural gas at Equinor and SSE Thermal’s on-site Triton power station.

The amount of CO2 captured and safely stored in sub-sea aquifers as a result will be around nearly 900,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to taking about 500,000 cars off the road annually.

The project forms part of Equinor’s ‘Hydrogen to Humber’ ambition to deliver 1.8 gigawatts of low carbon hydrogen production in the region, nearly 20 per cent of the UK’s national 2030 target.

These proposals seek to develop a hydrogen transport and storage hub network linking key sites primarily on the north bank of the Humber, including Saltend, Easington and the Aldbrough Storage facility, via dedicated hydrogen pipelines.

The H2H Saltend planning application was submitted to East Riding Council last July. No objections to the application were raised by any statutory body.

Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Lord Callanan, said: “I am pleased that H2H Saltend has been granted planning permission – a vital step forward in decarbonising the Humber, while delivering jobs and growth to the region.”

APPROVAL: The jetty at Saltend Chemicals Park

Derek Ho, H2H Saltend project director, said: “We are delighted to receive planning permission for this key project, which could help to kick-start multiple decarbonisation initiatives in the Humber – a vital region with a long-standing history for Equinor.

“It is an important first step in creating a low carbon hydrogen economy and achieving net zero in the Humber, safeguarding local industries and creating greater opportunities including new jobs and skills, whilst helping the UK to tackle climate change.

“This decision comes at a very opportune moment, as we await the launch of the Government’s next phase of the Cluster Sequencing process for the Humber, and it puts H2H Saltend in a strong position, should we submit a bid.”

Councillor Anne Handley, leader of East Riding Council, added: “This is an important decision, not only for this project but also for this region.

“We welcome major energy projects from global companies like Equinor, which help to demonstrate the ability of our area to attract investment, leading to more jobs, supply chain contracts and opportunities for local people.

 “We should be proud that East Yorkshire can be a leading light in the transition to a net zero economy.”