Whitby Hydrogen Village engagement session
Tuesday, 28 February, 6pm – 8.30pm Ellesmere Port Civic Hall
Please note: Registrations to attend the engagement session in person at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall are now closed as the venue is at full capacity. Residents can watch the session live on the evening via a webcast link. Please use the following link on the evening to access the online session: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/whitby
For those attending the event, doors open at 5.15pm with the event starting at 6pm. Please allow plenty of time to arrive and take your seat. Pre-registration figures show that the venue is expected to be full. Entrance will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Event details
Cheshire West and Chester Council is holding a public engagement session about the Whitby Hydrogen Village proposal on Tuesday, 28 February in Ellesmere Port Civic Hall.
This is an opportunity for residents in the Whitby area to have their say about the proposals and hear from various experts with a range of viewpoints.
The event is being chaired by Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council.
The experts attending the event include:
Professor Gordon E. Andrews, Professor of Combustion Engineering, School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds
Professor Andrews is an independent expert on hydrogen safety and low Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) burner design for domestic and industrial applications. He has 52 years of experience in hydrogen combustion with 600+ total publications including 270 publications on explosion safety and low NOx burner design. He was the technical lead of an industrial team led by Clean Burner Systems (CBS) developing three hydrogen fires under the BEIS Hy4Heat programme. Currently he is the technical lead on a BEIS project with CBS to decarbonise the Whisky distillery industry using a hydrogen/biowaste gasification technique. Professor Andrews was a member of the British Standards expert panel that wrote PAS4444 which is the hydrogen central heating boiler and fires safety testing protocol, that has to be complied with to get the ‘hydrogen ready’ approval, which requires hydrogen appliances meeting the same NOx standard as NG appliances.
Tom Baxter, Chemical Engineering Consultant
Tom Baxter is a Chemical Engineer with 40 years working in the oil and gas industry. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and a founding member of The Hydrogen Science Coalition. He is a retired Senior Fellow in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Aberdeen where he established a number of courses including Process Safety. Since 2003 he has been visiting Professor of Chemical Engineering at University of Strathclyde. He is currently a Chemical Engineering consultant providing heat, power and greenhouse gas reduction expertise.
Dr Angie Needle, Director of Strategy at Cadent
Dr Angie Needle is Cadent’s Director of Strategy, the Vice President of Hydrogen UK, and Fellow of the Energy Institute. In her current role for Cadent Angie is responsible for driving the UK’s largest gas distribution network towards a net zero future, and spearheading all things hydrogen. Prior to joining Cadent in 2019, Angie held several senior roles at Centrica and Anglian Water, developing energy and customer services propositions and supporting both organisations on their moves towards cleaner energy, reduced carbon emissions and more sustainable business models.
David Cebon, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cambridge, England
David Cebon is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in Cambridge University and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is Director of the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight and leads Cambridge University Engineering Department’s Transport Research Group and the Department’s research theme ‘Energy, Transport and Urban Infrastructure’. Professor Cebon’s research covers the mechanical, civil, and materials aspects of road transport engineering. He has authored or co-authored more than 150 peer reviewed papers on the dynamics, safety, and environmental performance of heavy goods vehicles. He has a strong current focus on energy vectors.
Mark Neller, Director at Arup
Mark is Arup’s energy leader for the UKIMEA region, overseeing a number of growing industries and sectors whilst supporting a diverse range of clients.
Mark oversees a diverse portfolio of service offerings for clients across the energy system, including electric vehicles, offshore wind, hydrogen and low carbon building energy solutions. He has more than twenty years’ experience within the energy sector and has a background in engineering.
Mark been instrumental in developing Arup’s presence in the hydrogen market, supporting clients through this evolving sector within the UK.
Tom Collins, Product Owner Hydrogen UK
Tom Collins has spent over 15 years working in Research & Development on various new technologies to reduce carbon emissions from heating, including heat pump hybrid systems and district heating. He was also Bosch’s UK expert on building and heating system modelling. Since 2017, Tom has led Bosch’s team of engineers developing 100% hydrogen-ready boilers.
Michael Liebreich, Chairman and CEO of Liebreich Associates
Michael Liebreich is Chairman and CEO of Liebreich Associates, through which he provides advisory services and speaks on clean energy and transportation, smart infrastructure, technology, climate finance and sustainable development. In early 2019, Michael joined Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) as a Senior Advisor and in September 2020, he became an official Advisor to the UK’s Board of Trade. Michael is a member of the Strategic Committee for the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions (Solar Impulse Foundation), a member of the selection committee for the Bloomberg New Energy Pioneers, a programme he created in 2008 and chaired until 2014 and recently became a member of the High-Level Observer Group for the Hydrogen Council and the UK Green Growth Fund. In April 2021 Michael became a member of World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Climate & Energy Advisory Council.
Andrew Lewis, Chief Executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council will also be on the panel.
Agenda
6pm – 6.05pm Welcome and Introductions Chair
6.05pm – 6.10pm Background to the Taskforce Chair
6.10pm – 6.20pm Overview of the session Chair
6.20pm – 7pm Individual Public Speakers (10 slots) Public speakers
7pm – 7.10pm Comfort Break
7.10pm – 8.15pm Panel Discussion / Q&A Expert speakers
8.15pm – 8.25pm Taskforce discussion/reflection period Chair
8.25pm – 8.30pm Conclusions Chair
How to ask a question and register for the event
Online registrations for the event are now closed as the venue is at capacity.
We will aim to get through as many questions submitted by residents as we can on the evening.
