Hydrogen plant expansion plan

A plant to create hydrogen for aviation fuel could be tripled in size under plans now being considered by Nouryon and Gasunie.

The two recently signed a deal to supply the hydrogen to SkyNRG, which specialises in sustainable aviation fuel.

The original plan for the plant at Delfzijl, the Netherlands was to build a 20 megawatt unit using renewable electricity to create hydrogen by water electrolysis.

But now the partners are looking at increasing capacity to 60 megawatts which would allows for a conversion of 9,000 tons of hydrogen a year.

Knut Schwalenberg, managing director industrial chemicals at Nouryon said: “Green hydrogen is a sustainable alternative to fossil-based raw materials and makes new forms of green chemistry possible – relevant for many markets in which we operate. This project is an important step in scaling up the electrolysis technology and supports long-term growth in the market for sustainably produced hydrogen.”

Nouryon and Gasunie expect to take the final investment decision on the first phase of the Delfzijl project early 2020. A decision on the expansion to 60 megawatts is expected at the end of 2020.