MP hears young employees set out their hopes for Immingham power cluster as VPI gears up to become anchor emitter in Viking CCS carbon capture plan

The Humber's energy lead in Westminster visited VPI's Immingham Combined Heat and Power Plant, where it is a key partner in the project to deliver a carbon capture and storage solution alongside Phillips 66 and Harbour Energy. Together they could remove 3.3 million tonnes of CO2 annually, providing the scale required to make the Viking CCS transport and storage network commercially viable.

Ms Onn followed in the footsteps of Energy Minister Michael Shanks in visiting, meeting graduates and apprentices on a tour of the heavily invested 1.2GW facility. It came just days after development funding was maintained for the wider project in the Budget, something she had lobbied the Treasury for as the delivery framework is now awaited. 

VPI's Humber Zero project would see it become an anchor user of Viking CCS, retrofitting infrastructure to the existing power plant in what represents the fastest and most cost-effective route to delivery, with consents and grid connections all established, and front-end engineering design complete. 

Ms Onn said: "The passion and desire to be part of the solution for our hard-to-abate sectors, and lead it from the Humber, was clear. There is real enthusiasm and excitement for the economic boost this could provide, and the skills demand it could trigger, while also keeping focus on the bigger picture, addressing climate change.

"I feel energised by what I've heard, and will continue to push for more urgency in Westminster. We don't want to lose this desire to invest and future-proof the industry that provides such vital domestic supply, security and sustainability for the UK." 

The VPI plant supplies electricity and steam to key industrial processes - including refining, sustainable aviation fuel production and manufacturing materials used in battery development. The plant, the largest of its type in Europe, also has the capacity to generate electricity for up to 1.2 million homes.

Through its Humber Zero programme, VPI plans to decarbonise operations by retrofitting carbon capture technology onto two of the plant’s three generating units. It would represent an investment of more than £1.5 billion by VPI, creating around 1,500 jobs during peak construction and numerous high value permanent roles once operational.

The wider cluster is projected to bring £13 billion of investment to the Humber region, support around 20,000 construction jobs at peak, and open new import revenue opportunities for the UK through carbon sequestration services via the Port of Immingham, which neighbours VPI.

Sustainability and Environmental Management graduate Lily Franklin completed her studies at University of Leeds this summer, emerging with First Class Honours. "I've grown up around industry in the Immingham area, with several members of my family working here, so a career in power felt like a natural fit," she said, having spoken with Ms Onn. "I knew I wanted to pursue a career in an environmental role, and projects like Humber Zero make it really exciting to be starting that career here in the Humber."

Shift operations technician Dominic Pooler completed his apprenticeship last year. He added: "Having grown up in Grimsby, to have such a positive story about the area in terms of future prospects, is very important when it comes to career progression. This is what we have here."