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Indian billionaire Prashant Ruia is building the UK’s first emissions-free refinery, powered entirely by hydrogen, on the River Mersey.
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Essar Group, Ruia’s family business, has invested $1 billion in revamping the Stanlow refinery and plans to invest further in green energy.
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The project aims to decarbonize the industry in the North West, with UK government support, and is part of Essar’s strategic shift towards clean energy.
Prashant Ruia, chairman of Essar Group, is spearheading an ambitious project to create the UK’s first emissions-free refinery. Located on the River Mersey, the hydrogen-powered refinery is a significant step towards decarbonizing the industry in the North West. Ruia’s vision is to transform the legacy infrastructure of the Stanlow refinery, which Essar acquired from Shell in 2011.
The project is part of Essar’s Energy Transition (EET) division, which plans to invest in green energy initiatives. A new hydrogen plant with 350 megawatts of generating capacity is already in the works, with a potential second facility to follow. The excess gas will be piped to neighboring industries to support their decarbonization efforts. Ruia praised the UK government’s support, citing the £21.7 billion pledged for clean energy clusters.
Ruia acknowledged the financial challenges Essar faced during the pandemic but emphasized the company’s resilience. By selling off assets, Essar has been able to fund its green initiatives. Ruia stressed that his family fully supports the environmental shift, saying, “My father and uncle might have taken time to see the vision, but now they’re behind it 200 per cent.” The Stanlow refinery’s clean energy pivot marks a significant strategic shift for Essar.
As the UK strives to meet its climate goals, Ruia’s hydrogen-powered refinery serves as a model for sustainable industrial transformation. With government support and private sector investment, the North West is poised to become a hub for clean energy innovation.
