Phillips 66 Limited is progressing quickly with its Refuelling the Humber Refinery Project. The aim of the project is to 100% fuel the Humber Refinery’s industrial heaters with lower-carbon hydrogen to support the reduction of carbon emissions. The heaters are integral to the refining process because they provide the heat necessary to convert hydrocarbons to transportation fuels and other products used in everyday society.

Currently, the project is at its feasibility study stage with Phillips 66 Limited working closely with chosen contractors Worley and burner manufacturer John Zink International Luxembourg, S.a.r.L, a Koch Engineered Solutions Company. Recently the project has reached an exciting step as testing of potential burners suitable to be retrofitted to the heaters has started.

Phil Gothard, Phillips 66 Limited Humber Refinery Project Development Lead, said:
“We are really pleased with the results we are seeing from the burner testing and how the study is progressing. Our report will aim to be published by the end of the year, and we are excited to share our learnings with industry.”

“Refuelling the Humber Refinery is an important project we are conducting alongside the Gigastack project. The Gigastack project will also allow the Humber Refinery to use the low-carbon hydrogen produced from renewable power.”

Camilo Yarce, Regional Customer Advisor at John Zink International Luxembourg S.a.r.L, a Koch Engineered Solutions Company, said:
“We are honoured to participate in this project along with Worley and Phillips 66 Limited.”

“We trust that this feasibility study will become a footprint for other plants across the globe to transform their operations into more sustainable ones.”

Phillips 66 Limited has committed £500,000 to the Refuelling the Humber Refinery project. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the largest source of public funding for research and innovation in the UK, has matched the funding through its Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF).

“We are grateful to UKRI, IETF and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy for supporting our feasibility study” said Phil.

“The research and testing as part of our study will demonstrate the importance of hydrogen for industrial fuel switching as part of the UK government’s Net Zero goals”.

Dr Matthew Blackmur, Innovation Lead for Energy at Innovate UK, part of UKRI, said: “The businesses supported by the IETF are at the forefront of the green industrial revolution, taking proactive steps to future-proof their operations and drive positive benefits for local communities across the UK.”

“The projects they’re delivering are a positive step toward Net Zero, reducing their energy consumption and carbon emissions whilst maintaining their competitive edge. Delivering innovative approaches to net-zero manufacturing is a huge opportunity for the UK.”