Articles
H2Tech: Projects Update
LEE NICHOLS, VP, Content/Editor-in-Chief
GLOBAL TRENDS
According to a report by Global Energy Infrastructure (GEI), approximately 20% of low-carbon H2 projects being developed globally have taken a final investment decision (FID). Over the past few years, developers have struggled to secure the necessary financing and offtake agreements needed to take FID, despite the increase in global H2 strategies and initiatives.
Approximately half of the more than 210 projects that have taken FID are in Europe. The EU was the first region in the world to set a H2 strategy with import and production targets, which were then beefed up by the RepowerEU initiative—this plan calls for 10 MMtpy of green H2 to be produced in the European Union (EU) by 2030, with a further 10 MMtpy of imports. However, uncertainty around H2 taxonomy and proposals on additionality are hampering the development of EU projects.
Moving west, the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the U.S. has made H2 projects more attractive to developers. The IRA contains several tax incentives for H2 project developers.
China, which released its H2 strategy in March, aims to produce 100,000 tpy–200,000 tpy of green H2 by 2025. At the time of this publication, 16 H2 projects have reached FID; however, that number is expected to rapidly increase over the next few years.
AFRICA
Namibia plans to develop renewable energy value chain
Namibia has ambitions to become a renewable energy center on the African continent. The country has already announced projects to develop green H2 production and clean power generation. Hyphen Hydrogen Energy plans to invest more than $9 B to build a 300,000-tpy green H2 complex in the country. The project, to be developed in phases, will use 5 GW of renewable generation capacity and a 3-GW electrolyzer to produce green H2. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2025, with commissioning of Phase 1 by 2027.
French power producer HDF Energy is investing more than $180 MM to build a H2 power plant in the country. The facility will use solar panels to generate 85 MW of electricity, which will power electrolyzers to produce H2. Once operational, the additional power generated will enable Namibia to cut electricity imports from neighboring South Africa by approximately 40%.
Globeleq looking to deliver large-scale green H2 project in Egypt
In September, Globeleq signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the New and Renewable Energy Authority, the General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone, the Sovereign Fund of Egypt for Investment and Development, and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Co. to develop a large-scale green H2 facility in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, Egypt.
According to Globeleq, the project will be developed in three phases. Phase 1 includes a pilot project using a 100-MW electrolyzer to produce green ammonia. Once all phases are developed, the complex will include 3.6 GW of electrolyzers and around 9 GW of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power generation. Globeleq plans to develop, finance, build, own and operate the facility.
Fortescue Future Industries proposes large Egyptian investment
Also in Egypt, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) announced a proposal to build a large-scale wind, solar and green H2 production complex. According to FFI’s press release, the project would include the construction of a 9.2-GW wind and solar facility in Egypt to power a green H2 production facility. This project is part of FFI’s goal to supply 15 MMtpy of green H2 by 2030.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Technip Energies to build Yuri Green H2 project
Technip Energies has been awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract for the Yuri Green H2 Project in Australia. The project being developed by Yara Clean Ammonia and ENGIE in the Pilbara region of Western Australia includes the construction of a 10-MW electrolysis plant and an 18-MW solar PV farm. Once operational, the facility will produce 640 tpy of green H2. The green H2 will be sent to Yara’s Pilbara ammonia plant to produce green ammonia.
Technip Energies is responsible for the overall project management and the electrolysis plant EPC and startup. Monford Group is responsible for the overall project construction and the PV farm EPC and startup.
Japanese firms plan green ammonia import facility
Four Japanese firms—Idemitsu Kosan, Tokuyama, Tosoh and Zeon—are planning to convert existing storage facilities into a 1-MMtpy ammonia import terminal. The imported ammonia will be used as a carbon-free fuel in the country, as well as a source for H2. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2030.
China to significantly ramp up H2 production
According to the China-Africa Hydrogen Forum, China’s H2 production is forecast to reach 100 MMtpy–150 MMtpy by 2060. This production is expected to be generated by a massive increase in solar and wind capacity, which is expected to reach more than 4,800 GW within the forecasted timeframe.
South Korean firms plan green ammonia value chain
Four South Korean companies—Ark Energy, Hanwhe Impace, Korea Zinc and SK Gas—have formed a partnership to develop a green ammonia value chain between Australia and South Korea. The group plans to use Ark Energy’s green energy hub in Queensland, Australia to produce up to 1 MMtpy of green ammonia, which will be shipped to South Korea.
Also in South Korea, Jacobs was awarded a contract from Elenergy—an offshore wind farm developer—for a feasibility study on a green H2 production and import facility. The facility will use renewable wind power from a 1.5-GW offshore wind farm to produce green H2. Jacob’s scope includes a green H2 market analysis and technology review, the development of a conceptual design and a business case assessment of developing the project. The green H2 production and import facility is part of South Korea’s goal to increase clean energy production in the country’s overall energy mix—South Korea’s goals are to increase green H2 usage in energy consumption and power generation by 2050 to 33% and nearly 24%, respectively.
Consortium to study hydro-based renewable power for H2biscus project
Five companies—Samsung Engineering, Sarawak Economic Development Corp., Sarawak Energy Berhard, LOTTE Chemical and POSCO Holdings—signed an MoU to study the potential of suppling at least 900 MW of hydro-based renewable power for the H2biscus green H2/ammonia project in Sarawak, Malaysia.
According to Samsung Engineering, the MoU will jointly study the power supply capacity and facilities, such as substations and transmission infrastructure, that would be required to supply the project. In addition, the completion of the H2biscus project feasibility study is scheduled to be completed in 2023, with full operations to begin in 2027.
CANADA
Hydra Energy is building the world’s largest H2 refueling station
In late September, Hydra Energy broke ground on what will become the world’s largest H2 refueling station for heavy-duty trucks once completed. The refueling facility is being built in Prince George, British Columbia and will help refuel heavy-duty trucks along the company’ Western Canadian H2 Corridor.
The station will produce 3,250 kg/d of H2 using two onsite, 5-MW electrolyzers. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in early 2024.
EUROPE
thyssenkrupp to develop H2-powered direct-reduced iron plant
thyssenkrupp plans to invest $2 B to develop a H2-powered direct-reduced iron plant in Duisberg, Germany. The Duisberg project will have a production capacity of 2.5 MMtpy. To be completed in 2026, the facility will help replace a portion of the site’s coal-fired blast furnace capacity.
Siemens commissions large-scale H2 generation plants in Germany
In mid-September, Siemens commissioned a large-scale green H2 plant in Wunsiedel, Germany. The plant uses solar and wind power to fuel an 8.75-MW electrolyzer, which, in turn, can produce 1,350 tpy of green H2.
Siemens Smart Infrastructure was responsible for the construction of the plant and the creation of an intelligently monitored and controlled power grid. The green H2 will be used to decarbonize the region’s industrial and commercial sectors and transport, and will be distributed by truck trailers on a decentralized basis to end customers mainly within a radius of 150 km–200 km.
Due to the forecasted demand in green H2, the project developers have already begun talks on increasing the plant’s capacity to 17.5 MW. At the time of this publication, no additional information was available regarding future expansion plans.
NextChem to help develop Hy2Use waste-to-H2 plant and renewable H2/ammonia facility
Maire Tecnimont’s subsidiary, NextChem, was awarded a nearly $190-MM contract for the development of a waste-to-H2 plant in Italy. The facility—part of the Hy2Use project, which has been awarded Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) status—will convert 200,000 tpy of non-recyclable solid waste into 1,500 tpy of H2 and 55,000 tpy of ethanol (production capacities listed are the project’s initial phase). The facility will use proprietary technology developed by NextChem’s subsidiary MyRechemical. The project’s first phase is scheduled to begin operations in 2027.
NextChem was also awarded a pre-front-end engineering design (pre-FEED) contract by MadoquaPower2X, a consortium consisting of Madoqua Renewables, CIP’s Energy Transition Fund and Power2X. The consortium is building a renewable H2 and green ammonia plant in Sines, Portugal.
MadoquaPower2X will use renewable energy and 500 MW of electrolysis capacity to produce 50,000 tpy of green H2 and 500,000 tpy of green ammonia. The facility is expected to avoid approximately 600,000 tpy of CO2 emissions in its initial phase.
Per the contract, NextChem will provide pre-FEED engineering services, including early studies, technology and process reviews, modularity and logistics analysis, and front-end loading of engineering required to undertake the permitting and licensing for the project.
McDermott to conduct FEED for Gunvor’s Rotterdam H2 terminal
Gunvor Petroleum Rotterdam has awarded McDermott front-end engineering design (FEED) contracts for its green H2 import terminal project at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. According to McDermott, the FEED contracts cover the project’s ammonia tanks, inside/outside battery limits equipment and projects, interconnecting pipelines, and tie-ins.
Puglia Green H2 Valley project takes a step forward
In September, Edison and Saipem announced the acquisition of Alboran Hydrogen Brindisi Srl, a firm that is helping develop the Puglia Green H2 Valley project in Italy. Saipem also announced that it holds exclusive rights for the implementation of the project.
The Puglia Green H2 Valley project includes the construction of three green H2 plants in Brindisi, Taranto and Cerignola. These three plants will have a total combined electrolysis capacity of 220 MW, powered by approximately 400 MW of PV solar energy. Once operational, the three plants will be able to produce up to 300 MMm3/yr of green H2.
Air Products to double Europe’s liquid H2 capacity
Air Products plans to build a second liquid H2 plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Once operational in 2025, the facility will double Europe’s total liquid H2 capacity.
According to Air Products, the liquid H2 will be used to supply increasing demand from high-tech industries and the mobility markets.
INEOS awards contract to build Grangemouth H2 plant
INEOS has awarded Atkins, a member of the SNC Lavalin Group, a contract to design a new low-carbon H2 plant in Grangemouth, Scotland. The plant, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2030, will help INEOS remove more than 1 MMtpy of carbon emissions. The plant will utilize access to the Scottish Cluster Carbon Capture and Storage infrastructure, which will enable INEOS to send the CO2 from the H2 plant directly offshore to be stored in rock formations below the North Sea.
CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA
Tarafert to develop large-scale green ammonia plant in Mexico
Tarafert awarded Ohmium International a contract to supply 343 MW of electrolyzers for the company’s urea fertilizer and green ammonia production facility in Mexico. Ohmium designs, manufactures and deploys proton electrolyte membrane electrolyzers. The manufacturer will provide electrolyzers to Tarafert in three waves, with the first delivery scheduled for 2025. Once operational, Tarafert’s large-scale urea fertilizer and green ammonia facility will produce up to 200,000 tpy of green ammonia.
Partnership formed to develop green H2 power plant in Barbados
The small eastern Caribbean island of Barbados plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. To help reach this goal, the country is developing the Renewstable Barbados (RSB) project. The project—located at Harrow Plantation in the parish of Saint Philip—is being develop by IFC, IDB Invest, Hydrogène de France and Rubis and includes the construction of a 50-MW solar farm, with green H2 and lithium-ion battery storage. The power generated will supply the island’s energy grid for clean electricity production. Once operational, it is expected to provide clean electricity to 16,000 homes. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2025.
MIDDLE EAST
QAFCO to build blue ammonia plant
Qatar Fertilizer Co. (QAFCO) has awarded an EPCC contract to thyssenkrupp Uhde to build a capital-intensive ammonia plant in Qatar. Once operational in Q1 2026, the facility will be able to produce up to 3,500 tpd of blue ammonia.
U.S.
OCI starts construction on large-scale blue ammonia project
In early September, OCI began construction on its 1.1-MMtpy blue ammonia project in Beaumont, Texas. The facility, based on technology supplied by KBR, plans to begin operation in Q1 2025. Maire Tecnimont was awarded the EPC contract for the project. If needed, OCI can double production capacity to 2.2 MMtpy in the future.H2T
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