Tuesday August 21 2018
GRAND DESIGNS FOR ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO REVEALED PAGE 22
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REFINERY’S ROLE IN THE ‘EV’ REVOLUTION OIL GIANT’S PREMIUM GRADE PRODUCT COULD HELP FORGE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY CHAIN AS THE ENERGY ESTUARY’S REMIT WIDENS... OIL major Phillips 66 is putting itself forward as a cornerstone for the Humber to build an electric vehicle supply chain. The past five years have seen the South Bank refinery grow its supply of high grade graphite coke – used in batteries – from zero to being able to put 500,000 new cars on the road. It is formulated by the dedicated team, working alongside the company’s US-based research and development operations in Oklahoma, with the premium product a core part of lithium iron batteries. As well as electric vehicles, they are also used in smartphones and other consumer devices. It also offers the potential for large scale applications such as grid-linked storage to ease the peaks and troughs associated with the burgeoning offshore wind sector. It is the only refinery in Europe to do it, with the South Killingholme plant renowned as one of the most complex and efficient in the world, adding a further string to the Energy Estuary bow. Heading it up is Darren Cunningham, who believes the foothold in the sector could act as a stepping stone for a strong role for his Humber own region. Chinese manufacturer BYD has already committed to a North Bank energy park, with
By David Laister Business Editor dave.laister@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk Twitter: @davelaister
high growth micro-generation and charging solution provider MyEnergi looking to expand into North East Lincolnshire too, with financial backing from some of Britain’s brightest business brains, including former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy. At the refinery, where 700 staff and up to 400 contractors produce 20 per cent of the UK’s fuel, enough to keep 500,000 cars on the road each day, Mr Cunningham said: “We are now a major supplier in the lithium iron battery market, and electric vehicles is where the growth is, and it is big growth for us. The Government announced last year it wants to phase out conventional internal combustion engines by 2040, and it also stated in its Industrial Strategy that it wants to promote an EV supply chain in the UK, be it vehicle manufacture or battery manufacture. “We sell to a manufacturer of anodes, who sell to battery manufactures, it is a small part, but we are a major player.” Phillips 66 Humber Refinery. Inset, general manager and UK lead executive Darren Cunningham. ■ continued on page two
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