EnergyPathways PLC - Accelerated Hydrogen-Graphite Production Facility
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
RNS Number : 0999Z
EnergyPathways PLC
15 October 2026
15 October 2026
EnergyPathways plc
("EnergyPathways" or the "Company")
Accelerated Hydrogen and Graphite Production Facility
EnergyPathways fast-tracks Barrow hydrogen and graphite plant, targeting early first revenues for
MESH
EnergyPathways (AIM:EPP), the UK energy transition company, announces that it is fast-tracking
development of its low-carbon hydrogen and graphite production facility at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria,
with the aim of becoming revenue generative by 2029 with a potentially earlier project start-up, subject
to further design optimisation and supply chain management.
Alongside the LDES and natural gas/hydrogen storage elements, hydrogen, graphite and ammonia
production (together "Hydrogen Industries") is the third pillar of the Company's integrated MESH project.
Commercialisation of the Hydrogen Industries pillar is not dependent on Government commercial
support and involves minimal regulatory process. Land has been identified, existing gas and power
network connections are in place, and engineering work is progressing with the Company's two leading
technology partners, Hazer Group (with KBR) and Hycamite TCD Technologies.
Graphite: a critical mineral and a Government priority
The UK Government has identified graphite as a critical and growth mineral, essential to national
security, industrial strategy and the energy transition. The UK currently imports all of its graphite, and
there is a growing need for indigenously produced graphite to mitigate against global geo-political
shocks.
The Barrow facility will deploy methane splitting technology, which cracks natural gas into low-carbon
hydrogen and solid graphitic carbon. The carbon is captured as graphite rather than released as CO₂,
creating a new domestic source of a strategically important material.
Strong market dynamics across multiple grades
The Company's analysis confirms established markets for graphite across a range of grades. This
provides strong market dynamics and a clear path to monetisation from the outset.
A two-phase graphite strategy
· Phase 1 - establish EnergyPathways as a major graphite supplier: the Company has identified
its initial markets as tyre manufacturing, metallurgical industries, and the blending of graphite into
concrete and asphalt. These industries use carbon on a large scale, and EnergyPathways' graphite
would offer them a route to decarbonisation; and
· Phase 2 - move up the value chain: conversion of graphitic carbon into high-grade graphite,
including graphite suitable for use in electric vehicle batteries and other advanced applications.
Built for fast-track delivery
· Land: a site has been identified in Barrow capable of hosting a 20,000 tonne per annum plant, with
potential for future expansion. Negotiations regarding its purchase are under way;
· Grid connections: existing connections into the gas and power networks will enable fast-track
development. The Company is in direct dialogue regarding the option to secure a prioritised grid
connection; and
· No subsidy dependence: with no Government commercial support required and minimal regulatory
process, EnergyPathways has identified a route to early revenues by 2029. The Company will
continue to look at potential grants that could be utilised for further development work on higher
qualities of graphite, which naturally attract better prices and margins.
Commenting on the fast-track project, Ben Clube, CEO of EnergyPathways, said:
"We have a real opportunity to accelerate this project and become revenue generative by 2029 if not
earlier, underpinning the Company with strong cash flows at attractive EBITDA margins. We are actively
accelerating this aspect of MESH, with multiple workstreams ongoing, including the acquisition or lease
of suitable land in Barrow and engagement regarding connections into the gas and power grids. The
economics of the Hydrogen Industries component of MESH are compelling on a standalone basis. We
are progressing engagement with offtake clients to underpin the economics and with strategic investors,
as well as private capital, to fund the fast-tracked development.
"Graphite is a critical mineral the UK cannot currently produce for itself, and our work shows strong
demand across multiple grades. Our focus now is on locking in offtake, completing engineering and
securing the funding to deliver early cash flow for MESH and long-term investment for Barrow. We look
forward to updating the market as we complete the various milestones on our route to
commercialisation."
About MESH: https://energypathways.uk/mesh
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 (which forms
part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). The Directors of the Company are
responsible for the contents of this announcement.
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Investor Engagement with EnergyPathways
Engage with us by asking questions, watching video summaries and seeing what other shareholders
have to say. Navigate to our Interactive Investor website here: https://energypathways.uk/
Enquiries
Investor questions on this
announcement
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questions on this announcement via our
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https://energypathways.uk/link/yanB6e
EnergyPathways
Ben Clube / Max Williams
Email: info@energypathways.uk
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP
(Nominated Adviser)
Jo Turner / Louise O'Driscoll / Sandy
Jamieson
Tel: +44 (0)20 7213 0880
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP
(Broker)
Richard Hail / Adam Cowl
Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470
Hagen Advisory (Financial PR)
Ben Romney
Email: ben@hagenadvisory.co.uk
Subscribe to our news alert service: energypathways.uk/auth/signup For further information on
EnergyPathways visit www.energypathways.uk and @energy_pathways on X.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future
events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain
risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, competition for
qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, uncertainties
resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of
regulatory and other third party consents and approvals, uncertainties regarding the Company's or any
third party's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events.
Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known
and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors.
About MESH
The MESH Long Duration Energy Storage project has been designated as a project of "national
significance" by the UK Government.
It combines compressed air energy storage with natural gas and hydrogen storage. It is set to become
the UK's largest LDES project at 300 MW / 55 GWh / 100+ hours. It aims to start up hydrogen
production operations in 2029-2030, followed by LDES operations starting up in 2031-2032, subject to
government policy development, approvals and financing.
Significantly, MESH offers a multi-day storage capability in excess of 100+hours and so will be able to
capture the UK's mounting surplus wind power being generated which is being wasted.
Last year the cost to consumers of switching off wind farms and replacing this with expensive gas power
was in excess of £1.5 billion. By 2030, this is expected to increase to more than £8 billion as wind
surpluses increase on the back of the planned increase in wind capacity which together with "must run"
generation will reach around 80 GW compared with current average electricity demand of around 37
GW.
Other storage technologies, such as batteries, only store for a handful of hours at best (1-4 hours) and
are not viable to handle multi-day wind surplus and deficit events typical of UK weather.
MESH's low-cost hydrogen production provides a decarbonisation pathway for the UK's gas
consumption. It further enhances MESH's capability to store energy and supply flexible low-carbon
dispatchable power for days to weeks and even seasons acting as an important strategic reserve. It will
significantly strengthen national energy security and the UK grid's stability and reliability while also
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
MESH's gas and hydrogen storage project has the potential to provide capacity equivalent to 6 days of
national gas supply, more than doubling the UK's gas storage capability. The project is now at an
advanced stage of development and is awaiting policy and regulatory framework to be outlined in the
upcoming Energy Independence Bill. As a low-cost development, MESH gas and hydrogen storage
represents excellent value for taxpayer money for strengthening the UK's energy security.
By capturing the huge waste in wind power, MESH will lower system energy costs, provide system
flexibility over any timeframe to strengthen energy security reduce the UK's current over-reliance on gas
to backup renewables.
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