A memorandum of understanding that goes in the direction of decarbonization and the production of blue hydrogen through the capture of CO2 and its storage

This is possible from the collaboration of an oil company that operates in the extraction of natural gas and a company that deals with the production of electricity using this gas.

Eni UK and Uniper announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate joint initiatives that can contribute to the decarbonisation of North Wales . The collaboration is in line with the UK Government's 10-point plan for the energy transition and aims to test the technical and commercial feasibility of low carbon projects in the region.

It should be remembered, in fact, that among the actions of the UK government plan to achieve the zero emissions target by 2050 (a plan that will mobilize 12 billion pounds of government investment, and potentially 3 times as much from the private sector, to create and support up to 250,000 new jobs) investments are planned for the growth of hydrogen with low CO2 emissions and for the development of the carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) process.

Eni UK is currently the operator of the hydrocarbon fields in Liverpool Bay which feed the Uniper-owned Connah's Quay power station in Flintshire with natural gas .

On the basis of the Protocol, Uniper will evaluate solutions for the development at its industrial site of both blue hydrogen production through the capture of carbon dioxide and green hydrogen; while Eni UK will make available the infrastructure for the transport and storage of CO2 in its depleted fields in Liverpool Bay.

The location of the Uniper plant in Connah's Quay is ideal, as it is powered by a gas source supplied by the national transport system and because it is located close to the existing Eni UK infrastructure, which will be converted to the transport of CO2 in part of the wider HyNet North West project.

Philip Hemmens , Eni Head of Northern Europe Coordination, said: “It is a great time to invest in decarbonisation technologies and help make the UK one of the global leaders in the energy transition.

We hope that this collaboration between Eni UK and Uniper can complement and further enrich our commitment to the wider HyNet North West project, placing the North West of England and North Wales at the forefront of the UK's journey towards reaching the "zero" target emissions”, for the energy transition and the decarbonisation of many sectors of the economy from 2025 onwards”.

Mike Lockett, Uniper UK Country Chairman and Group Chief Commercial Officer Power, commented: “Uniper's Connah's Quay power station is well placed to take part in the decarbonisation of North Wales and the North West of 'England, as we plan to increase our hydrogen production capacity in the UK. We look forward to working together with Eni UK to explore future hydrogen and CCS production opportunities at the site.”

This Memorandum of Understanding is the latest in a series of agreements between Eni UK and companies based in the North West of England and North Wales, where the company is developing the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) process ).

Last May, a framework agreement was signed with Progressive Energy Limited to accelerate CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) as part of the HyNet North West project, aimed at creating a low carbon dioxide emission industrial district.

Eni UK has already obtained the carbon dioxide storage license in October 2021 to use its offshore fields in Liverpool Bay as permanent CO2 stores. In early 2021 Eni UK also created “Liverpool Bay CCS Limited”, a new company fully owned by Eni UK which will manage future licensed operations under the UK Government's carbon dioxide transport and storage programme. carbonic.

Uniper is a pioneering company in the field of hydrogen production and has the ideal technical skills and experience to help achieve the UK's zero emissions target by 2050. Uniper will contribute by investing in carefully selected projects, sharing its expertise in developing the production and use of hydrogen, as well as creating new jobs through its Engineering Academy.

Uniper has committed to making its European portfolio climate neutral by 2035. With hydrogen production as the cornerstone of its strategy, Connah's Quay power station is ideally placed to contribute to the future story of this energy source for Uniper and for the UK.

The Memorandum of Understanding with Eni UK is part of Uniper's growth strategy in the UK and is one of several partnerships currently in place across the country.

See more information about hydrogen

Sources: ENI