HyNet: a CCS and hydrogen game changer for north east Wales

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HyNet is an innovative low carbon and hydrogen energy project that plans to unlock a low

carbon economy for North Wales and North West England, and put the cross-border industrial region at the forefront of the UK’s drive to net zero.

The HyNet North West consortium - which includes Hanson Cement, the single largest industrial emitter in north Wales - is set to decarbonise Hanson’s Padeswood Works operations near Mold, and transform industry across Wrexham and Flintshire through switching to hydrogen. Other Walesbased partners on board the programme include Kellogs at Wrexham, and Essity, the leading hygiene and health company, at Oakenholt in Flintshire.

From 2025, HyNet will produce, store and distribute hydrogen as well as capture and store carbon from industry, using state-of-the-art technology to build new infrastructure, whilst upgrading existing infrastructure currently involved in fossil fuel production.

The project has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 10 million tonnes every year by 2030 – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.

In October 2021, the UK Government announced HyNet had been selected to progress within Track 1 of the industrial decarbonisation Cluster Sequencing process, making it one of the first UK industrial clusters to apply carbon capture and storage (CCS) to materially reduce carbon emissions in the UK.

The Cluster Sequencing process will allow HyNet’s partner companies to build on momentum gained in recent months, enabling them to further invest to substantially reduce carbon emissions.

HyNet’s development scenario for industrial decarbonisation includes hydrogen production and distribution to industry for fuel switching. This to be achieved through the creation of a regional hydrogen market within a dedicated supply network. It will also incorporate the direct capture of emissions from industries where fuel switching is not an option.

Through its affiliate Liverpool Bay CCS, HyNet will develop and operate both the onshore and offshore transportation and storage of CO2, providing a service for emitters to transport and permanently store CO2 offshore in depleted Liverpool Bay gas fields. John Egan of Progressive Energy, who are leading the HyNet consortium, is Project Director for HyNet hydrogen production. He told Green Industries Wales:

“HyNet is about getting on and tackling the emissions that are causing the climate crisis. HyNet is about doing it for real. It's not a trial, and it’s about doing it at scale and quickly.

“As a collection of world-leading organisations coming together, our hydrogen network will produce, store and distribute hydrogen.

“The border doesn't matter to us. It's an economic zone with huge numbers of people and businesses travelling backwards and forwards through it.

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Diagram showing the HyNet network integrating hydrogen supply and carbon capture and storage.

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Beyond 2030 the plan is for our hydrogen network to extend further across North Wales and into mid-Wales.”

Egan describes the project as a “a oncein-a-generation opportunity to effect real change in energy production and consumption.

“What we have seen is that industry is passionate to do this, and that is driven by what their customers are demanding: low carbon products. But it’s also about cost. Emitting CO2 is very expensive, so that’s a strong driver for industries.

“The scale of the problem we're trying to solve is huge. So it’s about having complementary solutions, not competitive solutions.”

HyNet is working with many stakeholders to develop the project, not least local government, and has strong support from regional leaders and business groups, including Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Cheshire West and Chester Council.

“For the majority of industry, their emissions mostly come from burning natural gas, basically the same as we all do at home, but essentially on a bigger scale. They're using natural gas and they're sending CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.”

“Rather than saying, ‘Oh my goodness, climate change is a huge problem for our business’, they’re saying ‘We’ve got an opportunity here.’ ” Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has called the project “a fantastic opportunity.”

“There’s a high demand for low-carbon hydrogen from businesses across the region…we have big ambitions to hit net zero from 2038. To do this we need the government to support HyNet, levelling up from north to south, east to west.” Meanwhile, Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Borough Council and Chair of the Mersey Dee Alliance, (the industry consortium for north east Wales, west Cheshire and Wirral), which is part of the HyNet alliance, said:

“Wales has ambitious targets to reach net zero. HyNet is critical to meeting, and even surpassing, Wales’ hydrogen ambitions, whilst safeguarding, and creating the high value manufacturing jobs this region is recognised for.”

“Early investment in HyNet is not only critical for future prosperity by maintaining production whilst achieving net zero, in the Welsh context, it is critical to strengthening the Union of the UK nations by bringing HyNet infrastructure into Wales as soon as possible.”

Left: The Point of Ayr gas terminal in North Wales. Owned and operated by Eni UK, it will be repurposed as part of the HyNet project. Right: A gas platform in Liverpool Bay that will be used to store CO2 in the depleted Hamilton gas field.