(Houston, USA) – The Swiss technology group ABB is investing in the major green hydrogen production project of the US-based Green Hydrogen International Corp. (GHI). The project, called "Hydrogen City," is being built in the state of Texas and will reportedly use solar and onshore wind energy to power a 2,2-gigawatt electrolysis plant. The plant is projected to produce 280.000 tons of green hydrogen per year, which will be used to manufacture one million tons of green ammonia.
60 gigawatt plant planned
The plans have been known since the beginning of 2022. According to these plans, after the initial construction phase , "Hydrogen City" is to be gradually expanded into a center for the production, storage, and transport of green hydrogen with a capacity of 60 gigawatts and an annual yield of more than 2,5 billion kilograms. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with production starting in 2030.
Graphical representation of the planned “Hydrogen City” with hydrogen and ammonia production. © Green Hydrogen International Corp.
The project uses underground salt caves to store the energy source. Up to 24.000 tons of green hydrogen could be stored there. A 120-kilometer pipeline to the nearby port of Corpus Christi, about 300 kilometers southwest of Houston, will transport the green hydrogen to an ammonia production plant. Export is then planned to meet demand in Europe and Asia. GHI is also in discussions with potential buyers of hydrogen for the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
EU regulation for renewable fuels met
ABB has already completed a feasibility study documenting the return on investment and examining compliance with EU legislation on renewable non-biological fuels (RFNBO) and the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The signed declaration of intent between the two companies also includes the supply of electric motors and drives, measurement and analysis solutions as well as solutions for performance and process optimization.
In October 2023, GHI had already partnered with Index Corporation, Japan's largest oil and gas exploration and production company, to explore the possibility of exporting hydrogen and ammonia from Hydrogen City to Asia.
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In the future, the 2,2 GW electrolyzer will produce hydrogen using electricity from Texas wind and solar power plants. © GHI
