The first ever hydrogen-powered furnace at a refinery anywhere in the UK has ended its 6,000 mile journey by arriving at a Essar Oil site in Cheshire.
The sheer size of the furnace meant that its transportation was enough to close the M53 on Saturday, August 13, as its delivery to the oil site took several hours.
The transportation required the assistance of multiple agencies such as National Highways and Cheshire Police, as the machinery was being moved at a sluggish pace of less than 4mph as the furnace arrived at the site on August 14.
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Standing almost five times the height of a double decker bus at 18.5 metres tall, 26.5 metres long and 14.2 metres wide, the hydrogen-powered furnace is one of the largest objects ever moved on UK roads.
(Image: Essar Oil UK)
The furnace went on a spectacular 6,000-mile trip that began in May this year in Thailand where the object was manufactured and it then arrived at Liverpool Port in June after spending several weeks at sea, before it was transported down the Manchester Ship Canal.
As the first hydrogen-powered furnace to exist in the UK, it can run on an 100% hydrogen source and will replace three existing furnaces that are currently situated at Stanlow.
It is expected to be fully operational by 2023 and is set to improve energy efficiency at the Essar Oil UK site as well as helping to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 240,000 tonnes each year from 2026.
(Image: Essar Oil UK)
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Deepak Maheshwari, Chief Executive Officer at Essar Oil UK, said: “After years of planning and months of transportation, we are delighted to take delivery of our new, state-of-the-art hydrogen furnace.
“We are grateful to the many organisations, including National Highways and Cheshire Police, who helped ensure the safe arrival of such a large and complex item.
“The new furnace is the first of its kind at any refinery in the UK and demonstrates clearly Essar’s long-term commitment towards decarbonising our operations and helping lead the UK’s low carbon transition.”
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