Hydrogen – in particular green hydrogen- has been pitted as a significant upcoming energy source in our global landscape, and in the lead up to November’s COP26 conference, governments and businesses alike are making the low carbon energy source a central part of their strategy to decarbonise. Yet the acceleration is not enough for some people, and the International Energy Agency said in a new report released earlier this month that governments need to move ‘faster and more decisively’ to make the transition to green hydrogen.
“Governments need to take rapid actions to lower the barriers that are holding low-carbon hydrogen back from faster growth,” said IEA Executive Director Faith Birol. “[this] will be important if the world is to have a chance of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.”
While we may not be at full capacity yet, projects are beginning to gain momentum, and every week new initiatives are being added to the list. Here, we took a look at the green hydrogen advancements that have happened over the last two weeks, to give you an insight into what’s new in the world of hydrogen and just how fast our global energy systems are moving.
Australia
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), an offshoot of mining giant Fortescue Metals Group, last week (10 October) announced its aim to manufacture commercial hydrogen products in Queensland within 18 months, a goal that is one of the most ambitious in the country yet. To achieve this goal, the group is set to construct the world’s largest electrolyser, renewable industry and equipment factory in Gladstone.
On the new target, FFI Chief Executive Officer Julie Shuttleworth said; “Our first facility in Gladstone will become an epicentre for Queensland’s green hydrogen ambitions, building on its skilled workforce, its great foresight in industrial master-planning, a world class port, and a constructive and supportive State Government,” she added.
UK
UK chemical giant Ineos today (18 October) announced its investment of £1.69bn into green hydrogen production in Europe, with plants set to be constructed in Norway, Germany and Belgium over the next decade and further investment intended for France and Britain.
The company said the investment is Europe’s ‘largest ever’ into electrolysis projects to make green hydrogen, and they also say it has the potential to ‘transform’ zero carbon hydrogen production.
In a statement, Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe said: “Green hydrogen represents one of our best chances to create a more sustainable and low carbon world. Europe is crying out for more investment in green hydrogen and Ineos’ announcement today shows our determination to play a leading role in this important new fuel.”
Netherlands
Plans for a new Hydrogen Hub, to be constructed in the Amsterdam North Sea Canal Area, were unveiled at the recent World Hydrogen Congress in Amsterdam on October 6th. Through the new hub, businesses in the area will be able to access a hydrogen network to help reduce emissions.
“It is our initiative to create a hydrogen hub in this region, in cooperation with industrial and governmental parties,” said Ingrid Post, Director of Energy Transition North Sea Canal Area. “Previously, there have already been a lot of individual initiatives, but what we have done now is to connect them to create an ecosystem.”
The new hub’s location is one of the largest fuel ports in the world, thus offering capacity to import and export hydrogen efficiently, as well as distribute it through its fuel and gas infrastructure.
Canada
Canadian firm Montem Resources has announced its plans to transition its Alberta Tent Mountain metallurgical coal project to a renewable energy complex – using wind and hydropower to produce green hydrogen.
The new, clean energy complex is anticipated to include 320 MW of pumped hydro energy storage, a 100 MW green hydrogen electrolyser and 100 MW of off-site wind farms. The site could be Canada’s first ever large-scale green hydrogen plant, offering potential production of up to 13,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year.
