Campaigners launch legal challenge against HyNet hydrogen scheme

A CAMPAIGN group has filed a legal challenge against the UK government, claiming the HyNet North West scheme is unlawful.

The campaign group HyNot has challenged the decision by the UK government and the North Sea Transition Authority to approve the HyNet development, citing environmental concerns linked to hydrogen production.

HyNet aims to deliver low-carbon hydrogen to northwest England and north Wales, supported by an integrated carbon capture system. Backed by a consortium of industry leaders, including Eni, Cadent and INEOS Inovyn, the project will repurpose oil and gas pipelines in the region for hydrogen and carbon capture systems.

Review grounds

HyNot’s judicial review centres on the government’s decision to allow Eni to store CO2 beneath Liverpool Bay.

According to HyNot, the government failed to assess the risk of major accidents, disasters and climate impacts associated with CO2 storage, as required under the 2020 Environmental Impact Regulations. It also failed to assess the cumulative climate impact of the wider HyNet project, namely the hydrogen production facilities. The campaign group also argues that the government has not considered the disruption the project may have on surrounding habitats.

HyNot also has concerns over “how little the public know about the wider HyNet scheme”, arguing that the segmentation of the scheme into ten applications lacks transparency.

HyNet already has three existing projects operating in its network and recently secured two more carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, boosting the scheme’s workforce to 2,800.

In October last year, Eni received government approval to store CO2 in Liverpool Bay by repurposing depleted offshore reservoirs. A human rights risk assessment was conducted by environmental engineering firm WSP on behalf of Eni in November to assess the impact of CCS on Liverpool Bay. Following a stakeholder consultation – covering concerns such as potential harm to fishing practices and the precise location of CO2 storage – the report classified the project as “lower risk” and outlined recommendations to mitigate human rights impacts.

Catherine Green, a representative from HyNot, which relies on crowdfunding, said: “HyNot is challenging HyNet in the courts because we believe the scheme will lock the country into continued fossil fuel use and undermine energy security through continued reliance on imported gas.”

She added: “We believe the government should instead invest in proven climate solutions such as renewable energy, faster electrification, waste reduction and energy efficiency.”