Stanlow Terminals CEO Mike Gaynon Discusses Award-Winning Plans for UK’s First Sustainable Energy Hub

Mike Gaynon, CEO at Stanlow Terminals Limited recently sat down with Molly Cooper from Tank Storage following Stanlow Terminals winning the prestigious ‘Terminal of the Future Award’ in Rotterdam. The discussion illuminated how Stanlow Terminals are strategically positioned to spearhead the national drive in evolving energy infrastructure, with the award winning terminal’s ambitious plans to establish the UK’s first sustainable energy hub.   

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Stanlow Terminals is part of Essar Energy Transition (“EET”) which launched in February 2023.  The ambition of EET is to become Europe’s leading integrated energy transition hub and we recognise the importance of providing exceptional service to our customers today and transforming and developing innovative ways to meet their evolving storage and transportation infrastructure needs.

EET is investing US$3.6 billion in developing a range of low carbon energy transition projects over the next five years, of which US$2.4 billion will be invested at its sites in the North West of England, including in distribution, storage and transport infrastructure.  The investment will see Stanlow Terminals play a vital role as the North West leads the UK’s energy transition. 

Our achievements in 2023 reflect this dual commitment to perform today and transform for tomorrow.  We were shortlisted for Global Storage Tank Storage Awards and our first very large crude carried (VLCC) docked at Tranmere.  This was great work from our marine and refinery operations’ teams.

Alongside this, we shared our plans to develop an open access green ammonia import terminal and hydrogen transport hub and we signed a memorandum of understanding to develop carbon dioxide transport and storage projects with partner ENI. 

We are currently evaluating opportunities with ENI UK to establish a carbon dioxide transport and storage terminal which will be capable of receiving, gathering and storing carbon dioxide from industrial emitters and other sources via shipping from dispersed locations. 

We welcomed the Government’s recent announcement to develop business models for non-pipeline transportation of carbon dioxide.  Shipping can play a significant role in the expansion of carbon capture and storage infrastructure by offering feasible and flexible routes between sources and storage sites. Stanlow Terminals is leading the development of this approach which will provide many more industrial companies the opportunity to utilise carbon capture and storage. 

Stanlow Terminals also plans to provide the vital infrastructure for a secure green ammonia supply chain – again to support UK decarbonisation.  Developing a major new open access import terminal for green ammonia in the Port of Liverpool builds on Stanlow Terminal’s existing benefits, offering a unique combination of competitive geographical location, deep water access and maritime infrastructure.  The terminal will also benefit from direct connectivity with HyNet, the UK’s leading low carbon hydrogen project in terms of scale and speed to market.

Feasibility studies are currently being undertaken, with the terminal currently scheduled to commence operations in 2027.

We are investing to transform our assets to make these opportunities a reality by growing our biofuels (HVO, SAF, Bio-Methanol & Bio-Ethanol) storage offering to customers in our biofuels hub and working with partners to develop decarbonised refuelling infrastructure for a green freight corridor on the Mersey.

We primed to lead the national charge in the development of changing energy infrastructure and create the UK’s first sustainable energy hub.  We’re looking forward to 2024, utilising our strong geographical position, and experience in the energy sector, to deliver the energy transition solutions our customers need.

Mike Gaynon I CEO, Stanlow Terminals Limited