Retrospective plans to build a new research and development facility within the INOVYN ChlorVinyls manufacturing site in Runcorn have been lodged. The IES Alkali Water Electrolyser (AWE) project will facilitate the development of a technology to address "legislation-driven market escalation for green hydrogen".
Proposals involve the demolition of an existing stores building to make way for the facility. Work started on the scheme in February and is still ongoing, with the latest application seeking retrospective planning permission.
According to the application submitted to Halton Council, the new facility will form the basis for the potential development of a Hydrogen Centre of Excellence establishment at Runcorn.
The proposed facility has come about to address legislation-driven market escalation for green hydrogen, with IES proposing to develop an AWE technology.
INOVYN IES, Runcorn, is the INEOS organisation tasked with the ongoing development of Chlor-Alkali cells. INOVYN is a subsidiary of chemicals giant INEOS.
The new facility will comprise of storage tanks, pumps, heat exchanger, and vent stacks and new electrolyser technology, housed in a new purposed-built building.
The application said the facility will interface directly with existing IES operations and facilities, hence removing the need for additional office/lab/personnel infrastructure.
It added that demolition of the existing local IES stores is a key requirement as enabling for the execution of the works. This will free up the plot location for the new facility.
