Australian oil and gas producer Woodside Energy Ltd. this week announced plans to expand its portfolio of hydrogen production opportunities in the U.S., having secured land in Ardmore, Okla., for future development of a modular hydrogen facility and entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mendon, N.Y.-based Hyzon Motors Inc.
Woodside said it is also progressing similar land acquisition opportunities aligned to growth markets in the U.S.
Subject to approvals and customer demand, the Australian energy company said the proposed H2OK project at Ardmore involves the construction of an initial 290 megawatt (MW) facility, which will use electrolysis to produce up to 90 mt/d of liquid hydrogen for the heavy transport sector. The location offers the capacity for expansion up to 550 MW and 180 mt/d, it said.
The project is targeting a final investment decision in the second half of next year, and first liquid hydrogen production in 2025.
Woodside said it is also taking a proactive role in developing the U.S. and Australian hydrogen markets. It said the company and Hyzon Motors, a supplier of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial and heavy transport vehicles, intend to explore opportunities to work together on demand stimulation, supply and infrastructure solutions and coordinated advocacy.
The Australian company said following the completion of Woodside’s proposed merger with BHP’s petroleum business (GM Aug. 17, p. 36), it would have “a significant presence” in the North American market. The completion of the merger is targeted for the second quarter of next year.
In Australia, Woodside already has announced plans to develop phased hydrogen and ammonia production projects in Perth (H2Perth) (GM Oct. 29, p. 35) and in northern Tasmania (H2TAS) to supply both Australian and international markets.
The company also announced in October a new collaboration with renewable energy technology company Heliogen involving the construction of a 5 MW commercial-scale demonstration facility in California using Heliogen’s concentrated solar power technology.
Hyzon Motors 12 months ago inked a collaboration agreement with BayoTech Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., an on-site hydrogen production and nitrogen technology provider, for the supply of low-zero-carbon hydrogen to accelerate the development of hydrogen fueling infrastructure for Hyzon’s customers. Under the agreement, BayoTech was to provide the methane conversion technology.
BayoTech reached a lease agreement for a hydrogen generator with Nutrien Ltd. in April 2020 for one of Nutrien’s nitrogen fertilizer plants. Under the deal, Nutrien was to operate the unit for supplemental hydrogen, while BayoTech would perform maintenance and 24/7 remote monitoring. Nutrien at the time confirmed the lease agreement, but said it had not finalized a location for the hydrogen generator (GM April 24, 2020).
BayoTech describes its on-site, low-cost hydrogen production solutions as “a first step in creating locally-produced ammonia, eliminating transportation costs, and reducing carbon footprint”.
The company plans to build 50 hydrogen hubs across the U.S. and U.K. in the next three years, BayoTech CEO Mo Vargas said earlier this month.