Hanwha Solutions to supply Shell with hydrogen tanks

Hanwha Solutions has joined Shell’s efforts to build extensive hydrogen refuelling infrastructure in California, US.

It will supply Shell with high-pressure hydrogen tanks for transport within its network of stations, Hanwha will help accelerate the Golden State’s energy transition and decarbonizing efforts.

Hanwha Solutions’ hydrogen tank manufacturing subsidiary, Hanwha Cimarron, said it finalized a Purchase Order with Shell to provide Type IV high-pressure hydrogen tank called Neptune. The carbon fibre-reinforced, the 2,000-litre-capacity vessel can store hydrogen at a pressure of 517 bar- the largest pressure level among Type IV tank.

Another strength of Neptune comes from its Anti-buckling technology, which can fully extract hydrogen without causing internal damage. Most Type IV high-pressure tanks can shrink easily when stored fully, so they often have one-tenth of storage capacity in reserve. Receiving certificates from the Department of Transportation, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and other state agencies, Neptune has proved its strength for transportation and storage usage.

Hanwha Cimarron’s supply of hydrogen tanks will support Shell’s efforts to extend its hydrogen refuelling network across California. The state is emerging as a key hydrogen hub in the US, with 52 out of 66 refuelling stations in the US operating there.

“This supply contract is a great foundation for our collaboration with Shell and our efforts to expand our presence in the US hydrogen market,” said Ryoo Du-hyoung, who heads Hanwha Solutions’ Advanced Materials Division. “We are also expanding hydrogen tank business in Europe, including Germany, to attract more clients globally.”

Acquired by Hanwha Solutions in December 2020, Hanwha Cimarron, formerly known as Cimarron Composites, founded by NASA scientist Tom Delay, is seeking to scale up its business. Its $51 million investment plan to build a high-pressure tank manufacturing facility in Opelika, Alabama, is well underway. When the construction is complete later this year, Opelika factory can produce up to 4,000 high-pressure tanks annually.

In 2021, it signed a deal with Texas-based energy company Sunbridge Energy Services to provide storage tanks for compressed natural gas (CNG). The $260-million deal aims to deliver tube trailers containing dozens of vessels that can store CNG and other pressurized gases such as hydrogen.