Fawley green hydrogen plant supplying ExxonMobil refinery gets shortlist boost
A MAJOR new hydrogen project has been given the green light in the New Forest after making a government shortlist.
The Fawley Green Hydrogen scheme will be built on land near the Fawley oil refinery, which will use the technology to reduce its carbon emissions.
The project is a partnership between refinery owner ExxonMobil and French-based firm Hynamics, a subsidiary of EDF Group.
Hynamics will install a 120MW electrolyser, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. All of the hydrogen produced by the plant will be supplied to the refinery ”replacing existing fossil fuels used for heating”, a Hynamics spokesperson said.
The project was shortlisted by the government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2), which allocates cash from the £240m Net Zero Hydrogen Fund supporting commercial hydrogen production projects across the UK.
An ExxonMobil spokesperson said: “Among a range of lower emissions solutions, ExxonMobil has been exploring the introduction of green hydrogen at its Fawley facility.
“As a customer for the HAR2-shortlisted Fawley Green Hydrogen project, green hydrogen, made directly from renewable energy, could not only lower process emissions but also support the production of a range of lower carbon fuels including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).’’
Pierre de Raphelis-Soissan, CEO at Hynamics UK, said: “Today’s announcement reiterates the UK’s commitment to put green hydrogen at the heart of the energy transition.
“We are proud to collaborate with ExxonMobil on this project, as they are committed to reduce their carbon footprint across their major operated assets.
“The Fawley project will provide a reliable source of green hydrogen for at least 15 years, enabling the acceleration in the provision of low carbon energy at ExxonMobil petrochemicals complex, which represents a potential 100,000 tons of CO2 avoided each year.”
Hynamics’ project is among 27 shortlisted for HAR2. The company work with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero during the due diligence phase to clarify and provide further details on the “opportunity and value for money” the Fawley Green Hydrogen project is said to offer.
Emplyoying 2,500, Fawley refinery is the largest in the UK, supplying around 25% of Heathrow’s jet fuel, as well as a range of chemicals.
