Cheshire sets out stall in energy sector

Date added: 25/09/2017

Energy and property businesses have combined to brand a range of assets from Ellesmere Port to Runcorn, along with sites capable of welcoming further development, as the Energy Innovation District.

The district has been established by the Cheshire Energy Hub, whose members include C-Tech Innovation, EA Technology, Encirc, Essar Oil UK, Peel Environmental, Protos, Storengy UK, and URENCO, together with the Cheshire and Warrington LEP, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the University of Chester’s Thornton Science Park.

The overarching aim of this clustering of assets is to provide secure, low-carbon and low-cost indigenous energy from the North West, unlocking over 33,000 jobs and £7bn in capital investment. Close to 1,200 acres of development land is available within its scope.

The district includes:

• Storengy UK Underground Gas Storage Site: Storengy UK has invested £350m and is committing a further £150m to double the size of its facility to develop the largest onshore gas storage facility in the UK
• Protos: £170m has been invested in enabling infrastructure and energy generation, including a 21MW biomass facility and a 57MW wind farm
• Essar Oil (UK) Ltd: the Stanlow manufacturing complex produces 16% of the UK’s transport fuels, employing more than 900 people
• Encirc: the contract bottling facility is the largest of its kind in Europe and produces container glass for the food and beverage industry, employing more than 300 people
• URENCO UK: uses centrifuge technology to provide uranium enrichment services to generate low carbon nuclear energy, employing more than 300 people
• CF Fertilisers: the UK head office and manufacturing plant of a business that procides more than 1m tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser to support grass and arable farming across the UK, employing more than 400 people
• Thornton Science Park – the University of Chester has created a £17m Intelligent Energy Systems Demonstrator
• Capenhurst Technology Park: owned by URENCO, the park is a centre for technology and energy-focused enterprises, including C-Tech Innovation, EA Technology, Enrichment Technology Ltd and Flowgroup plc