ABB to support major US hydrogen project

This Power-to-X facility plans to utilise solar and onshore wind energy to operate a 2.2GW electrolyser plant, aiming to produce 280,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, which will then be converted into one million tonnes of green ammonia every year.

The initiative will employ underground salt cavern storage, regarded as an effective method for storing large quantities of hydrogen onshore. The proposed storage capacity of up to 24,000 tonnes of green hydrogen is expected to mitigate the variability of the renewable energy sources fuelling the operation, thereby contributing to a reduced levelised cost of hydrogen.

A pipeline stretching 120km to the nearby Corpus Christi energy port, approximately 300km southwest of Houston, will facilitate the transportation of green hydrogen to an ammonia production site for conversion and subsequent global export, targeting markets in Europe and Asia. GHI is also engaging in discussions with potential stakeholders interested in using green hydrogen as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel and e-methane production.

ABB has concluded a feasibility study aimed at developing an electrical system architecture to enhance the project's return on investment and ensure compliance with EU regulations governing Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) and the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Plans include supplying its Integrated Control Safety System alongside the distributed control system ABB Ability™ System 800xA® to enhance efficiency, operator performance, and asset utilisation. The scope of the MoU also encompasses electrical motors and drives, measurement and analytics solutions, and solutions for power and process optimisation.

Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries, expressed pride in collaborating with GHI on the Hydrogen City project, highlighting the potential impact of ABB's technology in supporting and scaling the ambitious green hydrogen production facility. He emphasised the partnership's contribution towards decarbonising global industry and advancing towards a net-zero future.

The global green ammonia market, valued at £0.3 billion in 2023, is anticipated to reach £17.9 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 72.9%. Ammonia holds promise in supporting decarbonisation efforts within the energy transition, serving as an alternative fuel for heavy transport, including shipping, in addition to its primary use in fertiliser production.

Brian Maxwell, CEO of GHI, stated the company's honour in partnering with ABB for the Hydrogen City project, citing ABB's superior expertise in power systems architecture, automation, electrical, and digital systems as key advantages for the complex project. He also mentioned the project's goal of producing the lowest-cost green hydrogen in South Texas.

Construction is scheduled to commence in 2026, with the first production expected in 2030. Hydrogen City is designed as a phased project, with plans to expand production capacity as the market for green hydrogen evolves.