The Marram Energy Storage Hub (MESH) will store excess renewable energy, produce low-carbon hydrogen, and generate low-carbon electricity, using salt caverns and gas field reservoirs for storage.

With approval from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), EnergyPathways will apply for licenses in an area around four times larger than its previous application. This could indicate the project will be scaled up.

If the company’s storage license applications are successful, “MESH would represent a scalable business model and growth platform for EnergyPathways that will have potential to become a key component in the UK,” according to CEO, Ben Clube.

The update comes shortly after the UK government designated the project as a “nationally significant” development under the 2008 Planning Act, highlighting its contribution to the country’s energy security and Net Zero goals.

This status is expected to help fast-track approvals and draw investor and stakeholder attention.

“MESH is firmly aligned with the government’s energy priorities,” Clube added. “We are now accelerating project deliver alongside our tier one partners: Siemens Energy, Hazer Group in conjunction with KBR, Wood, Costain, and Zenith Energy.

“We will progress our applications for the consents and approvals required to bring this landmark project into operation.”

Alongside Australian firm Hazer Group, EnergyPathways plans to explore a 20,000-tonne-per-year turquoise hydrogen production facility at the MESH site, which will use methane pyrolysis technology.

The pair will look to use Hazer’s production systems to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen, ammonia, and graphite from the MESH site across Northwest England.