US green hydrogen supplier Plug Power has secured an order from energy infrastructure firm TC Energy to supply two 30t/d hydrogen liquefaction systems to facilities it is developing in North America. Plug will deliver the liquefiers in 2024.

While hydrogen has a higher energy density as a liquid than it does as a gas—making it easier to transport and consume at end-use—liquefaction requires the fuel to be cooled to -253°C. Liquid hydrogen also requires specialised vessels in order to be traded internationally, in contrast to hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia and methanol, which have already seen a head start owing to existing infrastructure for storage and transportation overseas.

“This deal validates our investment in Plug’s liquefaction capabilities as part of our vision to build an end-to-end green hydrogen solution” Marsh, Plug

Last year, Plug acquired gas processing company Joule Processing, which had developed a cryogenic process technology applicable to hydrogen and estimated to cut liquefaction costs by 25pc. In December, Plug signed an order with truck manufacturer Nikola to supply a 30t/d liquefier for its Arizona hydrogen hub. Plug is also contracted to supply the hub with volumes of green hydrogen starting from this year, ramping up to 125t/d by 2026 as its production network comes online.

“As a global leader in manufacturing reliable hydrogen liquefiers, Plug is focused on optimising both capital and operational efficiency for our customers at every stage of the hydrogen value chain,” says Plug CEO Andy Marsh. “This deal validates our investment in Plug’s liquefaction capabilities as part of our vision to build an end-to-end green hydrogen solution.”

TC Energy signed an agreement with Nikola in 2021 to collaborate on the development of hubs producing more than 150t/d of hydrogen near highly travelled truck corridors. The two firms are evaluating a site near TC Energy’s Crossfield gas storage facility in Alberta for blue hydrogen production, with FID expected by the end of this year.

“Securing long-lead equipment and systems gives us a head start as we move to finalising sites for hydrogen production and distribution hubs,” says Corey Hessen, executive vice-president and president for power and energy solutions at TC Energy.

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Author: Polly Martin