Q4 2021

Archive / Current Issue

Special Focus: Future of Hydrogen Energy

Modeling and simulation are key to developing FCEVs

A potential way to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change is replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with electric vehicles.

To prepare for a greener tomorrow, reexamine H2 energy today

Today, roughly 70 metric MMtpy of H2 is produced to help meet rising global energy demands.1 Those are the highest levels in history; however, H2 comprises only a small fraction of the current global energy infrastructure.

Hydrogen on tap: Supporting decarbonization by pipelining H2 to the point of use

H2 is set to play an increasingly important role in the world’s energy mix. As an industry feedstock, a source of heat and power or a transportation fuel, H2 has the potential to gradually decarbonize large sectors of industry.

Columns

Editorial Comment: Global H2 forecast for 2022 shows strength on continuing support

The low-carbon H2 sector is set to double in size this year, according to research by BloombergNEF, helped by unexpected growth from China in the first half of the year.

Regional Report: Renewables richness, energy transition push Middle East, Africa to explore H2

The Middle East is rich in both fossil and renewable energy, in the forms of petroleum, sunlight and wind.

Executive Viewpoint: Digital technology will accelerate innovation and profit for H2

Hydrogen has been in the spotlight for the past 2 years. In a survey of approximately 340 global companies, conducted by AspenTech in June 2021, 65% of respondents said they were planning to invest in hydrogen in the next 5 years as one solution to greenhouse gas emissions.

Power and Utilities

Power to gas, liquids, chemicals: An approach to industrial decarbonization with H2

Around the world, electricity is being generated from renewable resources like sun, wind, hydro, tidal and geothermal.

Green Hydrogen Production

The challenges of delivering a large-scale green H2 project—Part 1

With a global energy transition underway, interest in H2 as an essential vector in a future energy system is skyrocketing.

Infrastructure and Distribution

H2 value chain analysis comparing different transport vectors—Part 2

Part 1 of this article, published in the Q3 issue, introduced the study concept and methodology for examining four transportation vectors to convert natural gas from Ras Laffan Industrial City in northeast Qatar into an H2 product at South Hook LNG terminal in Milford Haven, West Wales, UK.

The complete cycle of low-carbon H2—Part 2

The cost of H2 production depends on the natural gas price for SMR, the electricity cost for electrolysis and biomass, and the electricity cost for the biomass route.

Trends

Technology Spotlight

Aquaterra Energy has signed a partnership with Lhyfe and Borr Drilling to develop an innovative concept for offshore green H2 production in the North Sea.

Projects Update

EUSTREAM, Gas TSO of Ukraine (GTSOU), NET4GAS and OGE have joined forces to develop an H2 highway through Central Europe.

Hydrogen Storage

Long-duration H2 storage in solution-mined salt caverns—Part 2

Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is an increasingly important aspect of corporate strategies and investment decisions.

Hydrogen Economist

Repsol produces hydrogen from biomethane

Firm has replaced natural gas in its industrial processes with biomethane obtained from municipal solid waste

UAE launches hydrogen strategy

Nation is targeting a 25pc global market share in key export targets

EU targets €1.8/kg green hydrogen

Goal announced at the start of European Hydrogen Week, which aims to bring together industry and policymakers

Octopus and RES to invest £3bn in UK green hydrogen

Partnership is evaluating several sites for construction of green hydrogen production and is in discussion with offtakers

Cop26: What role for hydrogen in the journey to net zero?

Hydrogen can play a key role in many of the pledges made by participants at the talks

Data-based decisions require AI at enterprise scale

Operational data is generated on a vast scale across the value chain every day but has yet to be fully exploited by predictive, analytical digital technologies

US act to scale up hydrogen

New act will encourage federal mindset for hydrogen and promote development and linking of hubs, says panel

PE Live: Mobility key in hydrogen economy

Fuel is starting to be a viable decarbonisation option in transport sectors not previously considered, say panellists

Woodside plans $750mn clean hydrogen hub in Perth

Western Australia eyes role as clean energy powerhouse as firm lines up mega-complex featuring green and blue hydrogen

Four key actions to build Canada’s hydrogen economy – EY

Low-carbon hydrogen could account for 27pc of Canada’s primary energy demand by 2050, while abating 190mn t CO₂e

Shell’s California hydrogen stations to open in 2022

Project Neptune will see construction of 48 new and two upgraded hydrogen refuelling stations across California

Equinor still evaluating UK hydrogen prospects

Work still to be done before firm can give exact timings on deployment

Hydrogen tax credit advances to US Senate

Measure will have sliding scale with four categories of carbon intensity

Scaling your digital twin strategy

Firms should look to an enterprise-wide use of the technology to reap the operational benefits and support a sustainable future

AFC sells world’s first AEM fuel cell system

Fuel cells use AEM technology, rather than the traditional alkaline liquid electrolyte technology historically used in alkaline fuel cell systems

Energy sector ranks hydrogen top priority for R&D

Some 38pc of those surveyed by law firm WBD consider hydrogen as the transition technology for which R&D is the most important

Cummins looks to hydrogen ICE engines

Internal combustion engines powered by hydrogen regarded as interim decarbonisation solution

UK urged to accelerate hydrogen CfD scheme

Country has scope to significantly overshoot 2030 targets, says new trade association Hydrogen UK

Orkney offshore wind could produce green hydrogen

Consortium evaluating project to produce green hydrogen on the Scottish island of Flotta for export, gas injection and use as marine bunker fuel

Outlook 2022: A case for European blue hydrogen

Tackling fugitive methane emissions in the supply chain is vital if blue hydrogen is to be considered low carbon

Ballard spins its wheels

Share guidance for Ballard Power Systems was downgraded this month following uncertainties surrounding the Chinese fuel cell market

Johnson Matthey to invest £1bn in hydrogen

Firm is also ending investment in batteries as it pivots to other areas

ITM electrolyser orders grow

Rapidly growing markets have led the firm to raise finance and expand manufacturing facilities

Industry welcomes New South Wales hydrogen strategy

Aim is to halve cost of green hydrogen production in the region from $A8.6/kg to under $A2.80/kg by 2030

Alaska Airlines in Zeroavia hydrogen retrofit deal

Short-haul hydrogen-powered test flights expected in 2023 from Seattle hub with onsite green hydrogen production and refuelling network

Precious metal recovery vital – panel

Recycling proton-exchange membrane electrolysers and fuel cells at the end of their lives will help address supply concerns

Managing the EV nickel pickle

Global plans for decarbonisation are driving massive growth in electric vehicle uptake, but production of key battery metal comes with a problematic carbon footprint of its own

Petronas eyes Asian hydrogen markets

Firm is moving ahead with green and blue hydrogen projects with goal of supplying existing LNG customers

Northern Territory supports $11bn green hydrogen project

‘Desert Bloom’ project being developed to supply 410,000t/yr of green hydrogen for domestic and export markets

Green hydrogen could fall under $2/kg by 2025 – RMI

Cost of fuel will drop as electrolyser manufacturing is standardised and gains economies of scale

FFI and AGL eye green hydrogen in Hunter Valley

Firms will carry out study to replace two ageing coal-fired power plants with green hydrogen production facility

Hydrogen needs strong carbon price

Global carbon trading schemes need higher prices to incentivise hydrogen projects, says panel

Adnoc faces both ways

The state firm caught the global mood in the fourth quarter with a string of decarbonisation initiatives, but it also set out plans to raise oil and gas production

TotalEnergies and Daimler to develop hydrogen road infrastructure

The two companies aim to reduce total cost of ownership of hydrogen truck operations

Energy transitions for a sustainable future

The challenge of meeting global energy demand while hitting net-zero targets will be at the core of this year’s World Petroleum Congress

UK net-zero strategy: Ten key points

The plans aim to accelerate decarbonisation in a number of different areas with a mix of investment and policy

East Coast and HyNet win CCS funding

Both feature blue hydrogen in their plans to develop low-carbon clusters to cut industry emissions

South Korea looks to hydrogen-fired power generation

Government announces plan to burn hydrogen and ammonia blends in gas- and coal-fired power stations

Carbon price would make hydrogen viable – Wood Mackenzie

Accelerating development of low-carbon hydrogen before 2030 would require carbon prices above $60/t

ITM Power acquires site for second factory

Firm intends to build a factory on the site capable of producing 1.5 GW/yr of electrolysers that it hopes to be fully operational by the end of 2023

Ineos to invest €2bn in European green hydrogen plants

Ten-year plan includes 100MW electrolyser at Cologne complex in Germany aimed at green ammonia production

Outlook 2022: Hydrogen set to expand

Companies are accelerating action across a variety of sectors to use green hydrogen to decarbonise their processes

PE Live: Long-term policies needed to grow hydrogen economy

CfDs, carbon price hub model and infrastructure investment all vital if market is to grow, says panel

Clean hydrogen fund Hy24 close to first investment

Accelerating clean hydrogen sector offers opportunities across entire value chain for €1.5bn fund, managers say

Germany doubles hydrogen goal

Incoming coalition ramps up target for electrolyser capacity and gives priority to green hydrogen coupled with offshore wind

India eyes hydrogen future

Large planned renewable capacity means nation wants to invest in green hydrogen for domestic use

South Africa to accelerate hydrogen economy – Ramaphosa

Plan is to develop special economic zone at Boegoebaai to export green hydrogen, with Sasol as anchor investor

The role of tax policy in promoting a low-carbon hydrogen industry

Governments globally must determine which policy levers are most suited to incentivise the establishment and growth of a low carbon hydrogen economy

Gulf hydrogen ambitions edge closer to reality

Hydrogen projects worth more than $40bn announced in Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE over past 18 months as governments eye first-mover advantage

Cross-border infrastructure to benefit EU hydrogen economy

Pipelines enable coordinated European approach, matching supply more efficiently with demand, says study

Sharp fall in hydrogen bus costs – FCH JU

European Commission’s R&D arm will continue to fund projects across hydrogen value chain

Australia and South Korea to finance hydrogen development

Countries will each commit $35mn to collaboration on hydrogen, steel and CCS technologies

Germany looks offshore for wind-to-hydrogen future

Government launches tender to explore potential of pairing offshore wind with electrolysis in country’s northern exclusive economic zone

Making the market: How to structure commercial-scale hydrogen projects

A number of structuring options are available for commercial-scale green and blue hydrogen projects in the energy sector

US government funds Arizona nuclear hydrogen project

Demonstration project at America’s biggest nuclear plant includes storage of hydrogen for use in power generation, chemicals and fuels

Geopolitics could stymie African hydrogen

Uncertain investment environment means many proposed projects may not progress, says Verisk Maplecroft

SE Asian nations need better hydrogen strategy – panel

Region is lagging Australia and countries in East Asia and Europe in the hydrogen race

Hydrogen plays to Australia’s strengths

LNG project experience, proximity to Asian markets and renewable resources are in nation’s favour

Three hydrogen projects to receive EU finance

EU Innovation Fund will support up to 60pc of costs

South Africa’s energy sector and the just transition

Continuous engagement by stakeholders crucial in ensuring energy sector is sustainable while also managing social impacts of shift

EU backs Germany’s €900mn hydrogen import scheme

H2Global aims to secure imports by supporting non-EU projects with state-backed offtake contracts

Fourteen firms join Africa Hydrogen Partnership

New member firms hope to accelerate development of hydrogen economy in Africa

EU legislates on hydrogen pipelines and storage

First part of ‘Fit for 55’ package to be legislated provides support for projects retrofitting gas pipelines to carry hydrogen

Top EU court bans investors from suing member states in arbitration

Decision limits rights under the Energy Charter Treaty and other investment agreements

Qatar and South Korea sign hydrogen agreement

Agreement will involve cooperation on technology development and expansion of supply chains

Lightsource BP to co-develop first green hydrogen project with Dourogas

The partnership plans for eight projects with a total electrolyser capacity of 130MW

Chinese hydrogen projects could limit tech exports

Strong domestic demand for electrolysers could slow deployment elsewhere, says panel

RWE to build 2GW of electrolyser capacity by 2030

Firm will invest €500mn/yr on flexible generation and hydrogen technologies over coming decade

Projects must bridge finance gap with equity markets

Commercial lenders are unlikely to provide debt financing in the short term, but options exist

Schott receives €5mn for hydrogen technologies

German glass manufacturer is looking at ways to replace natural gas with hydrogen in the heating of furnaces

BHP and Posco to trial hydrogen in steelmaking

The two firms will trial direct reduction technology as part of wider suite of decarbonisation measures

Oman outlines green hydrogen vision

Mideast Gulf state eschews blue hydrogen and targets 40GW of electrolyser capacity by 2040, officials tell green hydrogen summit

Low-carbon hydrogen prices close to parity with grey

ICIS price assessments show high carbon prices caused blue hydrogen premiums over grey to narrow in 2021

Green hydrogen’s desalination challenge

Most green hydrogen capacity planned to 2040 is in potentially water-stressed regions, adding to project costs but not necessarily slowing deployment, says Rystad Energy

Air Liquide intensifies hydrogen focus

Firm has made investments in industry, air and road transport as it looks to take advantage of national hydrogen strategies

The best of Hydrogen Economist so far

Highlights from the first ten months of the service

ExxonMobil LNG receives 2021 Gastech Diversity & Inclusion Award

Firm’s commitment to inclusivity through its Power Play initiative saw it scoop award at Gastech conference

Neste moves ahead with Rotterdam electrolyser

Multiplhy project has received funding from the EU and aims to decarbonise refinery processes at site in Rotterdam

Ineos targets UK clean hydrogen market with Runcorn upgrade

Investment in facilities will allow hydrogen sales into transport and power generation sectors

Methanol touted as hydrogen enabler

Methanol-to-hydrogen reforming at point of use could sidestep need to transport and store the gas, conference hears

Microsoft trials new data centre fuel-cell technology

Three-year pilot project will use proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which are able to start and stop operating quickly

Utah power plant on track to burn hydrogen

IPP Renewed power plant aims to burn 30pc green hydrogen from 2025 and 100pc by 2045

Siemens Gamesa produces first off-grid green hydrogen

Hydrogen from test site supplied to Everfuel for distribution to Danish refuelling network

Global hydrogen projects grow 36pc in six months

Most commercial-scale projects of 1GW or larger will come onstream in 2025 or after, analysis by Aurora Energy Research shows

Governments must act now on hydrogen – IEA

Gap remains between current funding commitments and what is needed to achieve 2050 net-zero emissions goals

United Airlines invests in hydrogen propulsion

United expects to buy up to 100 hydrogen fuel cell engines from technology firm Zeroavia

Tractebel unveils offshore hydrogen storage concept

Ability to bundle export and compression of hydrogen produced offshore offers significant cost reductions, engineering consultancy says

US lawmakers consider regulatory framework for hydrogen transport

Observers are concerned further action is needed to clarify and enhance regulations for transporting hydrogen

Aker’s green hydrogen costs at parity with grey

Norwegian company expects FID on two projects in second half of next year

UK gas networks unveil plan for East Coast Hydrogen

Industrial clusters will drive initial demand for hydrogen, with wider switching from natural gas likely to take place from late 2020s

Scotland’s Whitelee green hydrogen project wins funding

Government will provide £9.4mn for initial phase that will see 10MW electrolyser built near Scottish windfarm

Develop blue hydrogen alongside green – study

Research led by Imperial College London shows green hydrogen is unlikely to meet demand at cost in near-term

PE Live: Liquid hydrogen key for transport

Liquid form of fuel will enable sectors to be linked via infrastructure, say panellists

Bigger electrolysis cells cut green hydrogen costs by 15pc

Use of 3D printing could increase size of cells by 500pc, Danish researcher Anne Lyck Smitshuysen says

Australia eyes A$2/kg clean hydrogen by 2030

Country is progressing on building hydrogen economy, says annual report

EU lacks hydrogen supply chain

Supply chain in Europe must be strengthened if sector is to fulfil potential, say panelists

Hydrogen Optimized demonstrates new electrolyser

Ruggedcell is a unipolar design that allows high current through a single cell, unlike conventional alkaline and PEM electrolysers

Green hydrogen costs approaching $3/kg

Falling prices for wholesale electricity generation and electrolysers are helping green hydrogen approach the costs of the grey variety in some regions

Coalition targets 45GW of electrolysers for 2026

Fortescue Future Industries and CWP Global announce Argentina and Mauritania projects as part of initiative

How commercially viable hydrogen offtake agreements can be developed

Market structures must be put in place to progress hydrogen past the pre-commercial stage

Leveraging intelligent data to improve sustainability

Digitalisation can help process and manufacturing facilities achieve sustainability goals

GH2 aims to develop global standard for green hydrogen

Industry group calls on stakeholders to join meeting in Geneva in December to start defining green hydrogen standards

Iridium alternative could cut PEM electrolyser costs

Newhydrogen releases research showing it has successfully replaced iridium in trials with a cheaper and more durable alternative

Hydrogen will develop regionally before global market

First steps towards making hydrogen a tradeable energy commodity globally will likely be regionalised markets, says panel

Accelerating clean hydrogen

Digital transformation will enable a greener shade of grey hydrogen from oil and gas facilities

Hydrogen: A confirmed green strategy for NSW

Strategy capitalises on New South Wales’ sustainable water resources, fast planning pathways and growing renewable energy generation capacity

Hydrogen scale-up needs massive regulatory push

Regulation and policy needed to unleash investment in clean hydrogen economy, leading fund Hy24 says

Nel Q3 electrolyser order backlog up 8pc

Leading pure-play electrolyser maker has 11GW of potential orders in pipeline and remains bullish on green hydrogen outlook

LKAB looks to decarbonise iron production

Swedish miner talks to Hydrogen Economist about the Hybrit project and its plans for fossil-free sponge iron

Hyundai Mobis to build two fuel cell plants

New plants to start mass production in second half of 2023 and expected to produce 100,000 hydrogen fuel cells a year

Alberta focuses on blue hydrogen

But province’s strategy is short on detail and lacks financial support for industry, says opposition

Iberdrola and H2GS to develop €2.3bn green hydrogen-to-steel project

The companies plan to develop a 1GW green hydrogen facility and produce 2mn t of direct-reduced iron by 2026

Macron says France can be green hydrogen leader by 2030

President also targets promotion of small nuclear reactors and 35pc cut in industry’s emissions as part of €30bn roadmap

Blue hydrogen can qualify as clean fuel – DNV

Minimising natural gas supply chain emissions critical to role as a sustainable energy carrier, risk management firm says

PE Live: Commercial hydrogen projects present specific risks

Mitigating these risks is different at a commercial scale than it is with demonstration projects, say panellists

Outlook 2022: Financing the hydrogen transition

Hydrogen could account for about 18pc of world energy demand by 2050, but what is needed for this clean energy solution to become a bankable model?

EU sets ground rules for competitive hydrogen market

Package of proposals calls for dedicated hydrogen infrastructure, with market rules phased in before and after 2030

Hydrogen will reach diesel parity in 2025 – Sinopec

Fleet operators will have compelling reason to switch to hydrogen trucks as costs continue to fall

Linde scales up Europe green hydrogen portfolio

Industrial gases company set to unveil two more 100MW projects as it scales up together with electrolyser maker ITM Power

Hyzon eyes technology progress

New ways to model fuel cell performance could greatly improve technology, says CTO Shinichi Hirano

UK’s ATI plans hydrogen passenger plane

Liquid hydrogen is considered to be one of the best options for decarbonising aviation by firms in the sector

Put global price on carbon to drive hydrogen economy – Air Products

Governments should focus their resources on promoting consumption, says CEO Seifi Ghasemi at Cop26

Engie and Equinor partner for Belgian blue hydrogen project

H2BE project in Ghent region will use autothermal reforming technology and ship liquid CO₂ to Norwegian North Sea storage site

UK ‘must establish’ safety case for hydrogen

Government should trial hydrogen at community scale with view to supplying 10,000 homes by 2023, report says

UK can be hydrogen leader – Johnson Matthey

As an early adopter, nation can create a new supply chain and workforce across the country as it looks to capitalise on growing sector, says firm

Hydrogen contracts to differ from LNG

Take-or-pay contracts and destination clauses will be hard to implement in hydrogen market

Hiiroc turquoise hydrogen technology secures funding

Technology based on thermal plasma electrolysis well positioned for commercialisation, says firm

Chinese firms must integrate mobility supply chain

Consortiums are needed in order to deploy solutions for government transport contracts

ITM Power to raise finance for expansion

Firm looks to raise a total of £250mn to build two further factories to meet demand

Hydrogen investors demand security of offtake deals

Long-term contracts will be needed to mitigate risk as investors assess bankability of multiple clean hydrogen production projects

London blue hydrogen project advances with CCS plan

Agreements with Acorn CCS and Peterhead Port pave way for shipment of CO₂ to North Sea storage sites off Scotland

European chemicals sector rises to climate challenge

Industry responds to EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ package with new business models and alliances with other sectors, says PwC’s global head of chemicals

Snam offers support to hydrogen technology startups

HyAccelerator scheme to help develop technologies across entire hydrogen value chain, from transportation to storage and end-uses

Uniper warns of hydrogen safety backlash

Industry and governments must reassure public or risk loss of momentum at critical phase of development, senior executive tells panel

Air Liquide and Iveco study Europe hydrogen truck roll-out

Companies jointly study potential of heavy-duty fuel cell trucks and refuelling network along European corridors

Saudi Arabia shoots for hydrogen supremacy

Riyadh has belatedly revealed its ambitions to lead the world in production of both blue and green hydrogen

Novatek and RWE sign supply deal

Novatek is seeking offtakers for blue hydrogen from its Obsky project, originally conceived as being for LNG production

‘Fit for 55’ could torpedo EU hydrogen

Overly stringent rules on renewable additionality will severely hamper the development of the sector, says letter from over 60 hydrogen sector firms

Hydrogen could compete with gas on price in Asia – panel

Large-scale projects targeting first output in the second half of this decade are negotiating offtake prices at parity with fossil fuels

UK wants to be ‘Qatar of hydrogen’

Net-zero strategy will do for hydrogen what previous policies did for wind power, says Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Thyssenkrupp to supply 2GW electrolyser capacity to Neom

Contract award keeps Saudi Arabia’s world-leading green ammonia project on track for 2026 startup

Hyzon Motors rejects short seller report

Firm strongly rejects report by investment firm Blue Orca that caused its share price to drop sharply

Hy Stor eyes green hydrogen hub

Mississippi development will produce, store and deliver green hydrogen from 2025, says developer

Blue hydrogen strategies carry risks – ANU

National plans that lack details on blue hydrogen specifications may not reduce emissions, say academics

US to spend $8bn on hydrogen hubs

Hydrogen strategy will be drafted following passing of Biden administration’s infrastructure bill

Sunfire pushes ahead with alkaline electrolysis division

Firm will continue to manufacture solid oxide electrolysers but aims to meet growing demand with more established technology

BP announces Teesside green hydrogen project

Firm hopes to develop the region as the UK’s first major hydrogen transport hub

Cairo eyes role as clean energy exporter

Egypt starts to look beyond decarbonisation of its domestic power sector as investment in its renewables and emerging clean hydrogen sector gain momentum

The six pillars of hydrogen policy

Lobby group the Hydrogen Council outlines the key policy elements needed to unlock clean hydrogen investment

Octopus, Innova and Novus to produce green hydrogen in UK

Electrolysers of 2-20MW in scale will be connected to 4GW of solar around the UK

Ardian and FiveT launch €1.5bn hydrogen infrastructure fund

Fund has already raised €800m from anchor investors including Air Liquide and TotalEnergies

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