A multi-billion pound project to supply hydrogen to factories across the North West is inviting Liverpool city region companies to join its supply chain. Tony McDonough reports

Firms from across Liverpool city region are being given the opportunity to join the supply chain of HyNet, a multi-billion pound project to supply factories with low carbon hydrogen.

In November last year LBN revealed that a number of large manufacturers in the North West had signed up to become part of the HyNet network. They include carmaker Jaguar Land Rover which operates a large factory in Halewood.

HyNet’s plan is to produce hydrogen using natural gas at a £1bn facility at the Essar Oil UK oil refinery at Stanlow on the banks of the Mersey. Natural gas is, of course, a fossil fuel which produces significant volumes of carbon. HyNet plans to capture and store this carbon in caverns under the sea in Liverpool Bay.

The hydrogen will be pumped to industrial sites across the region. It is hoped this will then be extended to start supplying hydrogen to the transport sector. Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is planning to introduce a fleet of hydrogen buses while the local Freeport zone may also use hydrogen lorries.

Backed by the Government, the HyNet consortium aims to be up and running by the middle of this decade and it claims it has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10m tonnes every year by 2030 – the equivalent of taking 4m cars off the road.

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HyNet has now released details of an upcoming event especially for businesses looking to learn more about the project’s supply chain strategy. In addition to an update from the team running HyNet, attendees will hear from each of the partners delivering the project’s infrastructure.

These include Cadent, Viridor, Vertex Hydrogen, Hanson Cement, Eni, CF Fertilisers, Progressive Energy and INOVYN. It has also launched a supply chain portal to allow interested organisations to register their details with the project.

Project director, David Parkin, said: “HyNet will provide the infrastructure and low carbon fuel which will allow industries to thrive into a net zero future. The project partners are planning ahead to ensure that suppliers across the region, and beyond, are in the best possible position to maximise the opportunities HyNet will bring.

“By starting early engagement with potential suppliers, the team wants to understand the services and products which are available to create HyNet. This region is full of world-leading skills and experience.

“We are encouraging businesses who have specialisms in services or products that could potentially become part of creating HyNet to register on our new supplier database, which can be found on the HyNet website.”