INEOS takes a huge step forward in delivering its plans for a world-scale low-carbon H₂ plant at Grangemouth as it awards a key contract for the design of the plant to Atkins, a member of the SNC Lavalin Group, to design a world scale low carbon H₂ plant at its site in Grangemouth.

The new H₂ plant, slated for operation in 2030, will see INEOS remove more than 1 MMt of carbon emissions from its already improving performance since it acquired the site in 2005 and comes on top of other significant investments at its site in Grangemouth.

Fundamental to INEOS’ H₂ project will be access to the Scottish Cluster CCS infrastructure. The CO₂ from the H₂ plant will be sent directly offshore to be permanently and safely stored in rock formations deep below the North Sea.

In addition to the Scottish Cluster, we are actively involved in the Forth Green Freeport bid, which if successful, will further support the early development of our H₂ production facility and our ambitions to achieve greater than 60% carbon reduction by 2030 on the road to our net zero commitment by 2045.

“Scotland has the resources, the people and the ambition to become a world leader in hydrogen production – for both domestic use and for export to Europe. It will play an increasingly important role in supporting our just transition to a net zero economy and deliver good, green jobs for our highly skilled workforces,” Net Zero & Energy Secretary Michael Matheson.

“Low-carbon hydrogen meanwhile offers a route for our critical industrial sector to decarbonize, and I welcome this latest step in INEOS’ road map to cut emissions, and their continued investment into the sustainability of our largest manufacturing site. The plan clearly demonstrates how important carbon capture technology will be to the sector’s energy transformation over the coming decades and the Scottish Government will continue to press the UK Government to accelerate the Scottish Cluster’s place in its cluster sequencing process, while standing ready with our own support to help deliver this vital technology.”

Colin Pritchard, INEOS’ Sustainability Director at Grangemouth said, “Atkins is a world-renowned engineering company with the skilled and experienced people to deliver this next phase in our ambitions to develop a hydrogen production hub at Grangemouth. The construction of our hydrogen plant is a vital component of our sustainability road map, underpinning plans for net zero manufacturing operations at Grangemouth. We will displace hydrocarbon-based fuels in our processes with clean low-carbon hydrogen and establish a hydrogen hub to enable others to benefit and reduce their emissions too. Alongside our support and active involvement in the Forth Green Freeport bid and the Scottish Cluster (carbon capture and storage) project, INEOS is at the forefront of actions and investments to reduce emissions in Central Scotland.”

David Cole, Market Director - Net Zero Energy, Atkins SNC Lavalin said, “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver the design phase of INEOS’ low carbon hydrogen plant. Hydrogen has the potential to play an important role in industrial decarbonization: our team has global experience in the technology, and we look forward to working with INEOS to bring this element of their net zero road map closer to realization.”