Hydrogen Economy Review: Russian companies sign several hydrogen-related agreements during Spief
Russia criticised proposals by the EU to impose carbon taxes on imports, urged to put aside the differences and avoid using the transition to carbon neutrality as a tool of unfair competition.
This week several agreements regarding hydrogen in the transportation and industrial sectors have been inked. Europe has remained active in the hydrogen market as usual. However, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (Spief) in Russia has remained a driving force behind several major deals.
During Spief, Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, has focused on reducing emissions and carbon neutrality during the event. Russia is forming a pilot carbon market in the Sakhalin region, which will develop a national carbon trading market and help in achieving carbon neutrality. He also mentioned about green bonds for energy development, assured reduction of emission through technological development and electrification of the transport sector. Putin also said that it is ‘myth’ Russia not concerned by climate change.
During the four-day annual international business event started on 2nd June, several hydrogen industry related agreements have been signed. Novatek and TotalEnergies SE will work on the production and usage of hydrogen technologies to switch gas turbines to hydrogen. Novatek and Severstal will produce blue hydrogen and develop technical solutions for the transport and storage of hydrogen. Severstal will also work with Gazprom Neft to develop technologies for the production, transportation, storage, and use of hydrogen as well as CO2 disposal. Gazprom Neft also signed separate agreements with two Russian steelmakers, Evraz and Severstal, to develop technologies to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen as well as reduce CO2 emissions. Russian Railways, Sinara and Rusnano have agreed to develop hydrogen fuel cell powered locomotives.
Outside Russia, in Germany, Deutscher Wasserstoff-und Brennstoffzellen-Verband (DWV) and H2Korea partnered to work on developing a hydrogen value chain in South Korea and Germany, to develop a hydrogen economy and to achieve carbon neutrality goals. Meanwhile, Gascade and Ontras also partnered for developing a hydrogen hub in East Germany. The construction work will start by 2026, building a 475 km of gas pipeline network for both consumers and producers of hydrogen in Eastern Germany. Further in Germany, Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nuremberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN) and Siemens Mobility also partnered to develop Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) technology in rail transport.
In Spain, the Spanish Hydrogen Association (AeH2) and a Spanish financial services company, Bankinter has signed a collaboration agreement that would allow member companies to access financing for their projects related to the production, development, commercialisation and distribution of hydrogen. The financing can range up to € 100 million (US$ 122 million).
In the UK, Toyota Tsusho, Uniper, Siemens Energy and Associated British Ports (ABP) have submitted a joint bid into the Clean Maritime Fund to work on supplying hydrogen to the Port of Immingham. If successful, a feasibility study will start in September 2021 to assess the technical and economic feasibility of reducing port emission using hydrogen, leading to an around 20 MW supply of green hydrogen to the Port by 2025.
Transporting hydrogen has also remained a focal point in some markets in Europe. For example, in France, GRTgaz and Teréga have launched a nationwide consultation with all key stakeholders in the hydrogen market to plan for the future hydrogen transport network in the country. Similarly, ArcelorMittal Belgium, North Sea Port, Federal Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and Fluxys Belgium have agreed to develop the pipeline network for hydrogen, CO2 and heat in the North Sea port area.
Outside Europe, Bakken Energy and Mitsubishi Power Americas Inc. have partnered to develop a hydrogen hub in North Dakota, US. The hub will be a home for facilities that would produce, store, transport and consume clean hydrogen. It will be connected through a pipeline to other clean hydrogen hubs being developed throughout North America.
In Australia, Global Energy Ventures (GEV) has partnered with Germany’s ILF Beratend Ingenieure to develop green hydrogen projects in Australia and Europe using GEV’s compressed hydrogen C-H2 shipping and supply chain technology.
The government of Mauritania and CWP Global are partnered to develop a 30 GW PtX (Power-to-X) project called ‘AMAN’ at the cost of around US$ 40 billion in the North of the country. CWP, also involved in other PtX projects in Asia, considers Mauritania one of the best places to produce low-cost green hydrogen.
In China, Great Wall Motor (GWM) plans the world’s first SUV with Class C hydrogen fuel cell based on the Hydrogen Lemon Technology will be launched this year, supporting a mileage of up to 840 km. Moreover, Continental and Censtar to work on developing dispensing hose solutions for hydrogen refuelling stations in China. In South Korea, GS Caltex and Korea Gas Corporation partner to develop liquefied hydrogen production and supply business covering the entire value chain such as hydrogen refuelling station, liquefied hydrogen plant, CCU technology, and the extraction of hydrogen.
In the Middle East, UAE Bee’ah and Chinook Sciences will work on Waste-to-Hydrogen Project. The hydrogen will be generated from the waste of non-recyclable plastics and woods and will be supplied to a fueling station.
We add around 100 hydrogen-related news every week to the H2Bulletin Hydrogen Economy Platform. Join our H2 Intelligence Platform today and start making informed decisions.
