Plans to build a vast gas and hydrogen store in the North Sea have moved a step closer with the award of key contracts.
EnergyPathways PLC has received licence operatorship approval for its Marram Energy Storage Hub (MESH) project, which will soon become the UK's largest offshore storage facility, capable of storing in excess of 500 million therms of energy.
The firm has also selected Aberdeen-based PDi to provide engineering study support to the Marram field development and the tie-in connection of MESH. The appointment of PDi follows the recently announced appointment of Wood PLC as project lead engineering partner for the project.
In a market update this morning, Ben Clube, CEO of EnergyPathways, said: "We are delighted to announce the NSTA's approval for the Licence Operatorship for Marram Block 110/4a which is an endorsement by government authorities of our operating capabilities and is a necessary milestone to keep us on track towards our plans to achieve FID (final investment decision) on MESH later this year.
"We are also pleased to welcome PDi into the MESH consortium, providing support to EnergyPathways as we progress MESH through the pre-FEED process. PDi is a highly experienced UK company that is a leader in the provision of project management with specific subsea capabilities relevant to MESH.
"This winter's conditions highlight the importance of the need to increase the UK's natural gas and energy storage capacity to improve its energy security and to alleviate the impact of volatile global energy prices on UK household budgets."
MESH is a new large scale energy storage facility that is expected to provide a secure and dependable supply of natural gas and green hydrogen for the UK market for over 20 years.
Production operations are expected to start from the end of 2029 to ensure a reliable and secure supply of energy for the UK.
MESH has been designed as a fully decarbonised and electrified zero emission facility that is to be powered by the renewable wind farms of the UK Irish Sea region.
EnergyPathways aims to play a leading role in supporting the UK's energy transition and development of a hydrogen economy.