Swiss technology provider ABB is collaborating with Austin-based Green Hydrogen International (GHI) on GHI’s Hydrogen City project to develop a major green hydrogen storage and production hub in south Texas.
Phase 1 would use solar and onshore wind energy to power a 2.2 GW electrolyzer plant to produce 280,000 mt/y of green hydrogen and 1 million mt/y of green ammonia. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), ABB’s automation, electrification, and digital technology will be assessed for deployment at GHI’s Hydrogen City project.
ABB said it has already completed a feasibility study to develop an electrical system architecture that optimizes return on investment for the project and supports compliance with EU legislation governing Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) and the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
The project is centered around a planned 24,000 mt green hydrogen storage facility in the Piedras Pintas Salt Dome located in Duval County. GHI said eventually over 50 caverns can be created at the location, turning the dome into the world’s largest green hydrogen storage hub, similar to the role of Henry Hub plays in the natural gas market.
A 75-mile pipeline would take the green hydrogen to Corpus Christi to an ammonia production facility for conversion and subsequent global export to serve demand in Europe and Asia. GHI is also in discussions with potential offtakers of green hydrogen as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel and e-methane production.
Construction is planned to start in 2026 with first production expected in 2030. Hydrogen City is being designed as a phased project, with plans to add additional trains of production as the market for green hydrogen develops.
GHI, which was founded in 2019 by geologist and renewable energy entrepreneur Brian Maxwell, first unveiled plans for Hydrogen City in March 2022. Tokyo-based INPEX Corp., Japan’s largest oil and gas exploration and production company, signed a Joint Study Agreement with GHI in October 2023 to advance the project.
Also last October, INPEX agreed with LSB Industries Inc., Paris-based Air Liquide Group, and Vopak Moda Houston LLC to collaborate on the pre-FEED (Front End Engineering Design) study for the development of a 1.1 million mt/y low-carbon ammonia production and export project on the Houston Ship Channel. If those plans proceed, the project’s first phase is targeted to produce ammonia by the end of 2027, with options for future expansions (GM Oct. 6, 2023). Completion of the pre-FEED is expected in third-quarter 2024 (GM March 8, p. 1).
INPEX and other Japanese companies signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) in 2021 to explore potential production in the UAE of blue ammonia. ADNOC had already been shipping blue ammonia to INPEX for use in power generation (GM Aug. 20, 2021).
INPEX said it plans to commercialize three or more projects by around 2030 and aims to produce and supply 100,000 mt/y or more of hydrogen/ammonia.