2 September 2022

Topsoe to build huge green electrolysis and PtX plant in Haining

Topsoe's Board of Directors has now taken the final decision to start building the world's largest electrolyzer plant in Haining. The plant will use green energy to produce CO2 free hydrogen fuel from water. The plant will have a production capacity of 500 MW, with the option to expand to 5 GW. The investment is expected to cost Topsoe around SEK 2 billion. Topsoe's Managing Director Roeland Baan pointed out that the plant is the first of its kind in the world and the largest single investment Topsoe has ever made. The new electrolysis plant is expected to be in operation by 2024. Construction is planned to start at the end of this year.

Nordiske Medier

Energinet and Gasunie cooperate on hydrogen energy infrastructure

Energinet and Gasunie are cooperating on hydrogen energy infrastructure. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), fleshing out part of the so-called Esbjerg Declaration and bringing the joint hydrogen infrastructure one step closer. According to the agreement, both parties must start preparing the hydrogen infrastructure between the two countries. For example,  joint coordination of the expansion plans for the pipeline connection, the terms and payments for the use of the connection and joint applications for EU funding.

According to Germany's national hydrogen energy strategy, the import demand for green hydrogen is 76-96 TWh by 2030, which corresponds to a production of about 20-30 GW of electrolysis, or roughly five times the target level of 4-6 GW of electrolysis in the Danish PtX strategy. This cooperation represents a clear opportunity for Denmark to help achieve a green transition from the current black hydrogen consumption in Germany. If the vision of a European hydrogen backbone is realised, a 50,000 km long European hydrogen energy network will become a reality by 2040. The total investment to realise the Danish Power-to-X strategy will be more than DKK 100 billion. To achieve this strategy, infrastructure is particularly important. This is because pipelines and other hydrogen infrastructure can help Denmark to produce more renewable energy. Futhermore, as hydrogen pipelines are cheaper than electricity infrastructure, the collective hydrogen infrastructure represents only a small part of the investment.

Green Power Denmark

Vattenfall and e-bike company CAKE launch the "Fossil Free" motorbike

European energy giant Vattenfall and Swedish e-bike manufacturer CAKE have joined forces to create a completely 'fossil-free' electric motorbike with an innovative production process that will provide "the cleanest off-road bike ever built". The new "fossil-free" bike will reduce approximately 1.2 tonnes of CO2 during construction. To make the bike fossil-free, the companies say they are exploring alternative materials such as green aluminium, steel, plastic and rubber, and looking at ways to reduce carbon emissions from the bike's motor, battery, brakes, suspension and electronics. Vattenfall has also been working with a consortium of CAKE’s suppliers who have said they hope this will offer the possibility of further reductions in emissions. Annika Ramsköld, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Vattenfall, added that the collaboration was in support of Vattenfall's vision of a fossil-free life within a generation and to demonstrate its dedication to new partnerships that "inspire and break down barriers."

Business Green

Solör Bioenergi grows further with the acquisition of Lantmännen Agrovärme

Solör Bioenergi is acquiring Lantmännen Agrovärme and its subsidiaries. The acquisition, which includes 19 facilities in southern and central Sweden, means that Solör strengthens its position as one of the largest players in the Swedish and Nordic district heating market. Lantmännen Agrovärme produces, distributes and sells district heating to approximately 1,100 customers at 19 facilities in southern and central Sweden. District heating is mainly derived from burning locally produced biofuels such as wood chips, energy forests, wood pellets and agricultural waste. Since 2019, biochar has also been produced at several facilities in Agrovärme. Solör Bioenergy Group has 249 locations in Sweden and Norway in particular, producing and distributing district heating, steam and electricity for households, companies, public enterprises and industry. The business also includes energy recovery from impregnated wood and the production of biofuels. Through the use of forest resources, Solör Bioenergi wants to pave the way for a sustainable society with reduced CO2 emissions. 

Press Release, Press Release 

Global fertiliser company improves energy efficiency with ABB's motors and inverters

ABB has supplied high-efficiency motors and frequency converters to enable Yara, the producer of nitrogen-based compound fertilizers, to improve the energy efficiency of its main production facility in Porsgrunn, Norway. Yara is now upgrading one of its largest international production facilities with high-efficiency technology. Around 1,000 motors have been upgraded and around 2,500 motors will be replaced with IE5 class synchronous reluctance motors and frequency converters in a second phase, which is expected to save up to 40 GWh and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 19 kilotonnes per year.

In addition to energy savings and reduced CO2 emissions, Yara expects further significant savings in maintenance costs due to lower mechanical loads and a longer service life of the motors and drive drives, and therefore lower wear and tear. As part of its circular economy programme, the Porsgrunn plant is also actively working with ABB and Stena Recycling to achieve sustainable recycling of used engines.

Press Release

Teco 2030 presents H1 loss of NOK 36 million

Hydrogen company Teco 2030 has reported a loss of NOK 36.3 million in 1H22 compared to a loss of NOK 21.7 million 1H21. The company's turnover for the first half of the year was approximately NOK 5.4 million, down from approximately NOK 10.8 million in 1H21. Teco 2030 is developing hydrogen fuel cells and plans to build a plant in Narvik and start producing fuel cells in 2023. The company said the second quarter figures were somewhat influenced by the start-up process of the plant in Narvik and the development team in Oslo. The company believes its financial figures are in line with the board and management's expectations for this period and clearly highlight the development phase Teco 2030 is currently going through.

E24

What we're reading

• EU hits 80% gas storage target early despite Russian cut offs (Reuters)
• The EU’s plans to curb electricity prices: Brussels advises member states to redirect power producers’ inflated profits to consumers (Financial Times)

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