UK’s Energy and Climate Change Minister visit Hynet decarbonisation project at the world’s largest aluminium recycling plant

HyNet, the UK's leading industrial decarbonisation programme, invited Greg Hands, the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, to Warrington to see Novelis, the world's largest aluminium recycling factory.

The minister accompanied Warrington South MP Andy Carter to witness how HyNet hydrogen, generated at the UK's first hydrogen production facility, could help the world's largest recycler of aluminium decrease its carbon emissions. The visit comes only a week after the Government designated the Hynet project as a Track 1 cluster to expedite the decarbonisation of North West England and North Wales, reaffirming the government's commitment to the region.

Minister Hands learned more about the economic and environmental advantages that would be seen across the area when companies link to HyNet's infrastructure to decarbonize. Viridor's Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) plant in Runcorn was the next stop after Warrington. At the Cheshire plant, Viridor will capture around 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, which will be transported and safely stored beneath Liverpool Bay using HyNet infrastructure.

“We were delighted to be able to show the minister first-hand the difference our project could make to HyNet. Runcorn operates over 90% of the time, treating waste that can’t be recycled, so can supply a steady flow of CO2 into HyNet’s infrastructure. Viridor is serious about making carbon capture work to decarbonise our business. That is why we announced ambitious plans last week at the Prime Minister’s Global Investment Summit to install CCUS across 7 of our sites, enabling us to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. Runcorn is the foundation of those plans, capturing nearly 1 million tonnes of carbon a year. We can’t wait to get started,” said Tim Rotheray, Director of ESG and External Affairs.

“It was fantastic to visit the North West today to see the HyNet carbon cluster project first-hand. As we set out in our landmark Net Zero Strategy, carbon capture will be key to helping industry decarbonise as we chart our path to net zero emissions by 2050. “Backing Hynet as one of UK’s first carbon clusters will put the North West of England and North Wales at the forefront of the UK’s Green Industrial Revolution, safeguarding and creating new jobs, while driving economic growth across both regions as we build back greener,” said Greg Hands, after touring the factories and learning more about how HyNet would alter the company.

“I often hear people say we don’t make anything in the UK and, actually, it’s quite the reverse. There are some 340,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector in the northwest alone, where wages are on average much higher than the equivalent service sector. We’re also seeing increasing global investment into manufacturing in the region providing huge economic benefits for our communities. “The challenges faced by the sector include reducing carbon emissions. Last week’s decision to fast-track HyNet project will allow for investment and development of groundbreaking carbon capture and storage technology, something we can use to help businesses like Novelis in Latchford as well as manufacturing plants around the world to cut harmful emissions and protect jobs,” said Andy Carter, Warrington South MP.

“It has been fantastic to show the Minister first-hand how HyNet will unlock a low carbon economy for the North West, putting the region at the forefront of the UK’s drive to net zero. Not only will the project produce, store and distribute low carbon hydrogen to industry such as Novelis, it will capture and store carbon from those industries which we all rely on but that produce carbon dioxide as part of their vital activities, such as Viridor. This game-changing project has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 million tonnes every year by 2030 – the equivalent of taking 4 million cars off the road. By achieving this, HyNet will create and maintain thousands of local jobs, as well as enable long-term sustainability for businesses and financial security for communities across the region,” said, David Parkin, the project Director of HyNet.