Fawley Green Hydrogen

The ExxonMobil Fawley refinery, situated within the petrochemical complex, supplies fuels for 1 in 4 for UK road vehicles, and provides more than 20% of the UK’s aviation fuel. If selected, the Hynamics project could supply a small percentage of the Fawley complex’s hydrogen demand. 

If consented and developed, the project could: 

• Help support the UK’s net zero targets
• Produce up to 120MW of lower-carbon green hydrogen
• Reduce CO2 emissions at ExxonMobil’s Fawley petrochemical complex by around 100,000 tonnes per annum
• 100  jobs once operational
• Create up to 200 UK jobs during construction phase 

Add up to £10M to the regional economy per annum

Hydrogen is a fuel that can be used to reduce the carbon intensity of heavy industry, transport and power generation. 

The technology for producing hydrogen already exists and is proven. Once produced, hydrogen can also be used to lower the carbon intensity of operations and products– providing a lower carbon energy source for road vehicles and industrial uses. 

In the UK, wind and solar make green hydrogen feasible. If selected, the Hynamics project could supply a small percentage of the Fawley complex’s hydrogen demand. 

Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water. Electricity is used to split water molecules into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2). The hydrogen gas is then compressed and would be stored on-site before being transported via the proposed pipeline to the ExxonMobil facility.

The Hynamics Fawley Green Hydrogen project would be located within Fawley Waterside. The exact layout of the facility is being evaluated and further details will be submitted as part of the application for planning permission due in early 2026. 

The main equipment in the hydrogen production facility includes: 

• Electrolysers
• Hydrogen purification and drying units
• Air-cooling system
• Associated pipework, heat exchangers and other miscellaneous equipment
• Control room, office facilities, workshops and equipment stores
• Water treatment plant
• Additional equipment within the site substation 

To transport the hydrogen to the ExxonMobil site, a pipeline would be constructed between the northern extent of the Hynamics site and the boundary of the ExxonMobil site near Ashlett.

To support the planning application, Hynamics will be undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). An EIA is used to identify and assess the potential environmental, social and economic impacts of a project, and where necessary appropriate measures will be proposed to address matters identified. 

Hynamics are still identifying the scope of the EIA and expect it to include studies in relation to the following topics: 

• Air quality
• Cultural heritage and archaeology
• Ecology and biodiversity
• Flood risk
• Ground conditions
• Landscape and visual impact
• Noise and vibration
• Surface water quality
• Traffic and transport 

The Environmental Statement, which contains the outcomes of this process, will be submitted as part of the planning application in due course. 

The proposed development lies within the old Fawley oil-fired power station site. The landscape and visual impact (LVIA) element of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) will consider the following potential effects: 

• Temporary effects on the landscape and site features and people’s views during construction activities;
• Direct effects on a site’s landscape character, quality and the physical features within it as a result of changes in land use.
• Indirect effects on the character of the site’s surroundings, including areas designated for their landscape importance.
• Long term impacts, and the quality of people’s views. 

A Landscape Strategy will be developed in association with the design stage to show the location and nature of mitigation and landscape proposals. This aims to minimise potential adverse effects of the proposed development and, where feasible, provide positive enhancements.

Hynamics intends to submit planning applications in early 2026. Once an application has been submitted, the local planning authority will carry out its own consultation process, seeking the view of local stakeholders and statutory consultees prior to reaching a decision.

In advance of us submitting the applications, we have submitted a scoping request to those authorities which seeks to agree the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment that will be submitted in support of the planning applications. 

We are also engaging with the local community and other stakeholders to introduce the project and to seek feedback on our outline proposals ahead of the submission of the planning applications. We will advertise the project website locally and will be holding an in person drop in event where local residents can come and speak to the Fawley Green Hydrogen Team and ask any questions they may have. 

If you would like to provide us with any feedback at this stage you can send an email to the project at fawley.green.hydrogen@hynamics.co.uk or you can send your comments by Freepost to Freepost FGH, London, SW1E 6DE.

The consultation will close on 30th January 2026.