UK's leading glass container manufacturer welcomes approved plans for large scale hydrogen production facility

Encirc Managing Director Sean Murphy (pictured) has welcomed the news that Cheshire West and Chester Council has approved plans for the first large scale hydrogen production facility and carbon capture plant in the UK, which will supply low carbon hydrogen to Encirc’s Elton factory.

Sean said the decision is another step closer to making the decarbonisation of their furnaces a reality.

He was speaking after councillors on the planning committee at Cheshire West and Cheshire Council approved the development yesterday (Tuesday), which is located at the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England, UK.

Sean said: “This is another important milestone in bringing low carbon hydrogen to the North West. At Encirc, we’re looking forward to ensuring glass is the most sustainable packaging of choice for generations to come. With access to low carbon hydrogen, we can decarbonise our furnaces and make that future a reality.”

EET Hydrogen, a joint venture between Essar Oil UK, owner of the refinery, and low carbon energy firm Progressive Energy, is behind the proposal. They revealed in September 2023 that engineering and design work had started on the project. Encirc has been highly supportive and influential regarding the project since its inception three years ago.

It forms part of the wider HyNet hydrogen project which aims to create a low carbon future across the north west of the UK.

The facility will eventually supply up to 1,000MW of hydrogen to glass manufacturers Encirc and Pilkington, as well as soda ash producer Tata Chemicals.

It is estimated that the hydrogen hub will enable local industrial and power generation businesses to switch from fossil fuels to low carbon energy, helping to reduce the North West’s carbon emissions by 2.5 million tonnes every year – the equivalent of taking 1.1 million cars off the roads.