Johnson Matthey (JM) has signed a LCH technology license with Equinor and Linde Engineering for H2H Saltend, one of the UK’s largest low-carbon H₂ (CCS-enabled) projects. JM was selected alongside its EPC partner Linde Engineering for the major front-end engineering and design contract by Equinor. The license counts towards JM’s milestone of winning more than ten additional large-scale projects by 2023/24.

H2H Saltend is a 600-megawatt low carbon H₂ production plant with over a 95% carbon capture rate, one of the first of its kind and scale in the UK, helping to establish the Humber as an international hub for low carbon H₂. This is the first phase of Equinor’s H₂ to Humber ambition to deliver 1.8 gigawatts of low carbon H₂ production in the region, nearly 20% of the UK’s national production target by 2030.

Due to be operational by 2027 and located at the energy intensive Saltend Chemicals Park, to the east of Hull, it will help to reduce the park’s emissions by up to one third. To achieve this, low carbon H₂ will directly displace natural gas in several industrial facilities reducing the carbon intensity of their products, as well as being blended into natural gas as the Equinor and SSE Thermal’s Saltend Power Station.

The amount of CO₂ captured will be around 890,000 tpy equivalent to taking about 500,000 cars off the road annually. H2H Saltend is a vital project for the wider Zero Carbon Humber scheme, which aims to make the region net zero by 2040.

Alberto Giovanzana, Chief Commercial Officer, Catalyst Technologies at Johnson Matthey, said, “H₂ will play an important role in helping us reduce carbon emissions. Using Johnson Matthey’s LCH technology for this project will enable the production of H₂ with 95% less emissions and demonstrate the UK’s leadership in low-carbon technologies. We’re excited our technology was chosen to be at the heart of this leading project, creating huge energy efficiencies for our customers.”