Atwick Gas Storage

Investing in our Communities

Our Atwick Gas Storage facility near Hornsea first entered commercial operation in 1979. It was purchased by SSE in September 2002. It consists of eight caverns with the capacity to store around 309 million cubic meters (mcm) of gas.

We want to deliver value and make a meaningful contribution to the community around our Atwick site. We are committed to our role as a responsible neighbour and are working across the region to invest in communities through engagement, support and funding.

A dedicated member of the Atwick community 

We know that understanding our communities is key to successful delivery for SSE Thermal which is why we appoint a dedicated colleague to manage relationships and act as a single point of contact for our communities and stakeholders. Rachel Fox is SSE Thermal’s dedicated Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the Atwick site. Based at the Aldbrough Gas Storage site nearby, Rachel has worked at SSE for many years, before joining our team in 2022 and has been working with communities, local groups, businesses, schools and colleges. Rachel can be contacted directly, with her details available on our dedicated project website: ssethermal.com/energy-storage/atwick

SSE Volunteering

Providing a helping hand to community projects is a key part of our commitment to the Atwick area, activities such as local litter picks and volunteering time for the development of community projects allow us to be part of the area. All SSE colleagues across the UK and Ireland are empowered to support community projects by giving one day of their working year to do so. We would love to hear from local groups that could benefit from our help.

Educational Outreach

Engaging with students through schools and colleges allows us to help inform and educate young people about our projects and how the work we are doing fits with their net zero future. We are delivering a range of engagement activities and education tools, targeting young people at varying stages and would like to understand further focus and ideas for the Atwick area. Peter and Paula, our Power Plant Pals, are one example of how we are engaging with students at an early age to help them understand how SSE Thermal will play its part in our transition to net zero, sharing information about Carbon Capture and Hydrogen technologies and fuels for the future. We would be delighted to hear from local schools that would be interested in learning more about the transition to net zero. 

Enhancing the Natural Environment 

SSE Thermal is committed to enhancing the natural environment on and around our site and we will work closely with the site to identify further biodiversity enhancement opportunities. We would be keen to hear about any areas locally which you feel should be a focus for us.

SSE Match Funding 

Many of our colleagues live locally and are passionate about raising funds through sponsorship based fundraising. SSE Thermal provide match funding up to the value of £150 each year to support these activities and we will launch a campaign at Atwick Gas Storage to encourage more colleagues to be involved in this initiative.

Inspiring the Next Generation 

We know that we will require the skills and ambition of our next generation to deliver future projects. Decarbonisation and the industries that will support its delivery can provide long term opportunities for young people to live and prosper in the Humber region and we are committed to supporting communities to understand the potential on offer. SSE Thermal works closely with local secondary schools and colleges, attending careers fairs and workshops to raise aspirations, increase awareness of careers within the energy industry and help to promote jobs and careers opportunities on our site. We continue to look for ways to support, please reach out to us with opportunities.

STEM Activities

Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are central to the delivery of our projects. That’s why we are working with schools, colleges and academic partners to develop STEM based learning packages for our next generation of energy leaders. SSE Thermal are also involved in the Women into Manufacturing and Engineering (WiME) Raising Aspirations, an initiative to encourage, inspire and help women to discover the opportunities available in manufacturing and engineering and working to attract more female applicants for STEM roles. We are always interested to learn more about opportunities across the Humber region to be involved in STEM activities.

Establishing and hosting Community Liaison Groups 

A Community Liaison Group (CLG) is a local forum at which details and updates relating to our development and operations are shared, ensuring that communities are provided with up to date information and have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to SSE Thermal representatives. Around existing operational assets, such as Atwick, SSE Thermal will work to identify and communicate with key stakeholders, community groups and members at key milestones or with key information from the site. 

Working with the local Supply Chain

SSE Thermal is committed to using local businesses, suppliers and providers where possible. Alongside our delivery partners we engage via ‘Meet the Buyer’ events which provide an opportunity for suppliers to meet our project teams and learn more about the services that we are looking to procure. For more information please visit our website: sse.com/potential-suppliers

A dedicated fund for our Community

We are introducing a community investment fund of £25,000 per year for community projects in the Atwick area. The introduction of an annual fund will enable us to support organisations that are working to deliver benefits for the community in and around our existing site. SSE Thermal are working with local communities, community group representatives and stakeholders to design a fund that takes local needs and aspirations into consideration. You can learn more about the community investment fund and how to apply on our website: ssethermal.com/communities

For more information please visit our website: ssethermal.com/communities 

If you would like to get in touch to provide ideas, comments or suggestions, please contact: thermalcommunityinvestment@sse.com