Cadent will run a statutory consultation from October 14 to November 19 for its underground hydrogen pipeline HyNet North West project.
The UK firm is asking people to share feedback on its updated pipeline design, including the Draft Order Limits, within which the pipeline will be routed, temporary construction areas and potential Hydrogen Above Ground Installation (HAGIs) and Block Valve Installation (BVIs) sites.
The consultation also welcomes comments on its Draft Environmental Statement. It will include eight in-person events across the project area, along with two online events.
The project will develop around 100km of new pipeline, which will distribute blue hydrogen primarily produced by EET Hydrogen at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex near Ellesmere Port to various north west offtakers.
H2 View understands that the pipeline will cover Ellesmere Port, Chester, Northwich, Warrington and Halton.
Smaller pipelines are expected to branch off the main pipeline route to provide connections to specific industrial offtakers in the region. Whilst the pipeline will be underground, nine HAGIs and two BVIs will be required along the route.
Following this consultation and once the final design has been developed, Cadent will submit an application to the Planning Inspectorate and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero for a Development Consent Order (DCO).
This is anticipated for Spring 2025 and a final decision to be made in 2026.
“The latest design includes changes made thanks to community feedback gathered from both previous stages of consultation and has also been informed by further technical and environmental work,” explained Rob Donovan, Cadent Project Director for the HyNet project.
Cadent made changes to the HyNet initiative following the UK Government’s December 2023 announcements relating to hydrogen and the publication of a Hydrogen Transport and Storage Networks Pathway.
Donovan continued, “We encourage local communities and authorities, as well as industry partners to share their views on these more detailed plans, to help us further develop our designs ahead of submitting our application for consent.
“The feedback we receive is crucial to ensuring the success of our proposals.”
In March (2024), the UK Government gave the green light for the HyNet North West CO2 pipeline which would have an estimated annual storage capacity of 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 in the first phase, with first operations planned for next year (2025).
Read more:UK Government greenlights HyNet CO2 pipeline
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