In a significant development for the clean energy industry, tH2 Power has secured a license for the construction of large-scale, low-carbon-hydrogen-fuelled power generation and manufacturing projects. The projects will be located at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County, Ohio, as well as additional sites in Central Appalachia.
The initial phase of the tH2 Power projects will involve the production of 500 tonnes per day of decarbonised (blue) hydrogen. This will be achieved by using natural gas as a feedstock, with the resulting carbon dioxide captured and permanently stored in geological formations in the region. A portion of the decarbonised hydrogen will be utilised for low-carbon power generation, sustainable transportation fuels, and other low-carbon products. Each site is expected to store approximately 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
One of the key technologies employed by tH2 Power is the Shell gas partial oxidation technology. This technology captures CO2 at higher pressures and larger scales compared to other options such as steam methane reforming and autothermal reforming, resulting in lower costs and reduced lifecycle emissions at each site.
Nick Flinn, Vice President of Decarbonisation Technologies at Shell Catalysts & Technologies, highlighted the importance of the proven and mature nature of the SGP technology in securing the deal. The successful operation of the Pearl GTL plant in Qatar, which has been using the SGP technology since 2011, served as a valuable reference. Flinn also emphasised that the simplicity of the SBHP process and its high carbon-capture rate without the need for complex recycles made it an attractive choice for tH2 Power.
Zane Rhodes, Co-Founder of Trillium H2 Power LLC, expressed appreciation for the collaboration with Shell and its reliable and safe manufacturing operations. Rhodes highlighted the importance of working together to produce clean blue hydrogen with minimal emissions as part of the national effort to re-shore US manufacturing.
The tH2 Power projects mark a significant step towards a low-carbon and sustainable future, leveraging advanced technologies and collaborative partnerships to drive the decarbonisation of the energy sector.
For more information visit www.shell.com
