Sinopec launches MW hydrogen project
Sinopec has been working on developing the hydrogen infrastructure in China with a focus on the transportation sector.
China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), a Chinese oil and gas company, has launched its first megawatt-level electrolysis based hydrogen production demonstration project in Zhongyuan Oilfield, Henan province, China.
The project will include installing a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser, which will produce hydrogen through water electrolysis without any emissions. It will have a capacity of 2.5 MW with the ability to produce around 1.12 tonnes/day of ultra-pure hydrogen. The PEM electrolyser will ensure a hydrogen purity level of about 99.9995%. The project is expected to be complete by September 2022.
Sinopec is joined by other partners in this project, including Dalian Research Institute of Petroleum and Chemical Industry, Guangzhou Engineering Co., Ltd., and Qingdao Safety Engineering Research Institute.
According to the comparison done by the company for its project, its production method as compared to alkaline water electrolysis and ash hydrogen production can save up to one kilowatt-hour of electricity for each cubic metre of hydrogen produced and can reduce 2,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions in a year, respectively.
Recently, the company has also signed an agreement with Enze Haihe Fund and Cummins, under which the companies will cooperate on projects involving the production of hydrogen via electrolysis.
Sinopec is a leading integrated energy and chemical company in China. Its operations include exploration and production, pipeline transportation and sale of petroleum and natural gas.
