Stallingborough Generating Plant

The proposed site on Hobson Way, near Stallingborough, is located within the established industrial area of the South Humber Bank. The site is allocated for industrial development and benefits from a number of key attributes that make it well suited to energy infrastructure:

• it is located in the Humber, with a great history of local industry and energy generation, meaning there is the required local skills and expertise
• It is located close to existing natural gas and electricity connections
• It is in proximity to a water supply for cooling purposes
• it has good transport links and access to ports, which assist with the deliveries of larger plant and equipment during construction.

Generating plants with carbon capture technology are essential in the UK’s transition to a decarbonised energy system, providing low-carbon, reliable and flexible energy at times when energy from renewable sources is insufficient to meet demand.

In their recent report, the Climate Change Committee notes that in 2035 the British electricity system will require carbon capture and storage (CCS), whether in post-combustion power plants or “blue” hydrogen production to fuel hydrogen turbines. (Blue hydrogen is produced mainly from natural gas, using a process called steam reforming, which brings together natural gas and heated water in the form of steam. The output is hydrogen, but carbon dioxide is also produced as a by-product, unless this is captured as part of the process). Within their central scenario, there is a requirement for 17GWe of dispatchable low-carbon capacity, with a range of 12-20 GW across the scenarios.

This report is available here.

The Stallingborough Generating Plant main site is approximately 33 hectares and is owned by RWE. Additional land will be required for the installation of the electrical connection and gas pipeline. We will be engaging with landowners as part of this process.

As the generating plant will produce more than 50MW of power, it is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and will proceed through the Development Consent Order (DCO) planning process.

The DCO process provides a dedicated framework specifically designed to address the complexities associated with large, complex energy projects (as well as other project types).
Applications for DCOs are examined independently by the Planning Inspectorate. Following an Examination of the project, the Planning Inspectorate will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, who will decide on the outcome of the application.

As the host authority, North East Lincolnshire Council will be a statutory consultee for the application (along with any other relevant planning authorities) and will play an important role in shaping aspects of the project. RWE is committed to working closely with the Council, along with local Parish Councils and statutory consultees such as the Environment Agency and Natural England. As part of this commitment, we will demonstrate a proactive approach to taking onboard feedback and incorporating comments, where possible.

The DCO process is a comprehensive and structured planning procedure, ensuring that all aspects of the development are meticulously scrutinised and involves several stages.

Further information on the DCO process can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Updates about our project will be posted here.

The Stallingborough Generating Plant will be fuelled by natural gas and therefore will require a new natural gas pipeline to be brought into the generating plant site from the main gas transmission network that runs from Easington to Hatton.

As part of the route lies in North Lincolnshire and West Lindsey we will be consulting with North Lincolnshire and West Lindsey Councils as the host authorities as part of the proposals.

The generating plant will require an electrical connection, to the National Grid Grimsby West Substation (around 4km away or potentially another substation that may be planned as part of the Grimsby to Walpole upgrade), where it will transfer the electricity to the national network. We are exploring options for the connection to the substation, including if it will be via underground cables or overhead lines or a combination of both.

The possible electrical connection and pipeline routes are in the preliminary design phase, undergoing careful planning and assessment. We are looking at a number of options, therefore our plans at this stage show a large area where these potentially may go. We are in the process of contacting landowners within our routing corridors and are undertaking studies to ensure the most appropriate routes are selected.

It is important to note that no electrical apparatus/cables or pipelines will be installed under residential properties or within residential gardens.

The project will comprise a number of key components, including:

• A combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station and associated infrastructure
• Cooling water infrastructure, using water abstracted from the Humber Estuary to support the operation of the power station
• Carbon capture infrastructure to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the power station’s exhaust gases
• Supporting and ancillary infrastructure required for the operation and maintenance of the site
• A natural gas pipeline to supply fuel to the power station
• Infrastructure to transport captured CO₂ for permanent storage as part of wider carbon capture and storage proposals in the Humber region
• An electrical grid connection to connect the power generated at the site to the national electricity transmission network

The main access to the site will be via Hobson Way. To minimise the impact on local highways, we are exploring the delivery of larger components via the Port of Immingham. We will undertake a transport assessment to look at the potential impacts of the project on the local and strategic road network in the surrounding area. This will also set out the proposed sustainable transport measures that can be implemented during the construction and operational phases of the generating plant to minimise disruption to local roads and communities. This will be consulted on with North East Lincolnshire Council.

We will also prepare a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP), which will look at prescribed routes for construction traffic and any changes that may be necessary to the road network.

We have written to those who own or have an interest in land potentially impacted by the project. This includes land in relation to the electricity and gas connection routes. It should be noted that inclusion within the area at this stage does not necessarily mean that the final route will pass through land owned or occupied by you.

We are currently undertaking additional desk-top research and surveys into the existing utilities, potential environmental and physical constraints in order to refine our design. If you have any questions about the letter you have received, please get in touch with us to talk to our lands team.

RWE is undertaking consultation with the local community, local authorities, parish councils and statutory bodies, including the Environment Agency, as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) process.

The project is currently at statutory consultation, which runs from Wednesday 11 March to Wednesday 6 May 2026, closing at 11:59pm. During this period, local people and stakeholders are invited to review the proposals and provide feedback.

All consultation materials, including the consultation brochure, plans and supporting documents, are available to view via the Documents library. Feedback received as part of this consultation will be carefully considered and summarised in a Consultation Report, which will be submitted alongside the DCO application.

Public participation is a crucial part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) process. Developers are required to carry out public consultation and give careful consideration to the feedback received.

The feedback we receive as part of this statutory consultation, alongside our ongoing environmental and technical assessments, will play an important role in shaping the final design of the proposals that are submitted as part of our DCO application.

As part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, RWE will investigate any potential local impacts as a result of the construction and will propose measures to mitigate them if necessary. A Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) will be developed as part of the DCO application to outline how construction activities will be managed throughout the construction process.

The Planning Inspectorate requires developers of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) to publish a Programme Document during the pre-application stage. This document sets out the anticipated timetable for preparing and consulting on the Development Consent Order (DCO) application.

The Programme Document outlines the key stages of the project, the main issues being considered, and how RWE is engaging with stakeholders as the proposals are developed. It will be kept up to date throughout the pre-application process and is available to view on the project website.