Stanlow Terminals open for biofuels

NEW CHAINS FOR OLD

BIOFUELS • STANLOW TERMINALS HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO PROVIDE PART OF THE LOGISTICS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED IF THE UK IS TO ACHIEVE ITS ENERGY TRANSITION

STANLOW TERMINALS is to invest over the next three years to transform its terminal and logistics complex in north-west England into one of the country’s main bulk liquid storage and energy infrastructure hubs for the net-zero future. It plans to develop a 300,000-m3 facility at its Stanlow Manufacturing Complex at Ellesmere Port on the Manchester Ship Canal and nearby Tranmere deepwater terminal in the Port of Liverpool to allow its customers to store, blend and distribute biofuels as drop-in alternatives to existing hydrocarbon-based fuels for the road, aviation and maritime transport sectors.

Stanlow Terminals already provides biofuels storage through dedicated supply and delivery infrastructure. This newly announced, customer-led investment will support the growth of initiatives such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), linked to Fulcrum’s Northpoint project, and sustainable hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO); it will also include waste-based feedstock import facilities, and blending and capacity expansion for existing bio-ethanol and bio-methanol. The market for energy from renewable sources in the UK is expanding rapidly, driven by legislative obligations to encourage lower carbon fuels.

Additional storage investment opportunities for low-carbon energy products such as e-fuels, bio-LPG, bio-methane, hydrogen and ammonia are all progressing through feasibility studies. “These investments reflects the growing demand from partners and customers who are seeking storage facilities and expertise in future fuels handling, as businesses across the economy look to decarbonise and operate in a more sustainable way,” the company states.

PARTNERING IN NET ZERO Earlier this year, Stanlow Terminals joined forces with parent company Essar and Fulcrum BioEnergy to develop a storage facility at Stanlow for SAF manufactured from non-recyclable household waste. The project will support the aviation industry’s continued reduction of carbon emissions and will support the UK drive towards becoming a net-zero economy. Stanlow Terminals is also supporting the UK’s hydrogen economy and the HyNet North West project by developing storage and distribution facilities that will be required for the future to provide a multimodal hydrogen and carbon dioxide transport hub.

“These key investments, and continued growth of our strategic relationships with customers, means Stanlow Terminals is firmly on track to becoming the largest sustainable storage and logistics hub in the UK,” says Prashant Ruia, non-executive chairman of Essar. “The government has set out a clear plan for decarbonising the economy and we are committed to playing our part in helping to achieve that.”

Michael Gaynon, CEO of Stanlow Terminals, adds: “The energy industry is changing. As the world comes together to develop innovative ways of generating sustainable energy, the supporting storage and transportation infrastructure needs to evolve. We’re primed to lead the national charge and create the UK’s first sustainable energy hub. Utilising our strong geographical position, and experience in the energy sector, we are providing solutions based on the ability to safely handle energy products to meet the needs of society’s net-zero goal.”

Between its two sites, Stanlow Terminals currently offers some 3.0m m3 of bulk liquids storage capacity in more than 200 tanks; the Stanlow complex has a range of pipeline, rail and road links to consumers, including Manchester airport and Essar’s nearby refinery, while the Tranmere terminal can handle tankers of up to 170,000 dwt. www.stanlowterminals.co.uk