Singapore: GIC invests in Intercontinental Energy +++ Berlin: Kaufmann remains the German government's hydrogen commissioner +++ Puchheim: Proton delivers fuel cell system to shipbuilder Fincantieri +++ Salzgitter: Steel group sources wind power from Ørsted +++ Oman: Mammoth hydrogen production project +++ Europe: Backbone initiative gains six new members +++ Berlin: Federal government funds Allane Mobility with €11,4 million for the launch of the Hyundai Nexo +++ Canada: Ballard Power delivers more fuel cells to Canadian Pacific +++ South Korea: 625 hydrogen buses ordered from Hyundai +++ Editorial guidelines
A selection of PtX topics summarized at the end of the week
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Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC is acquiring a strategic stake in Australian green hydrogen developer Intercontinental Energy (ICE). The size of the planned investment was not disclosed, as the deal is still subject to regulatory approval. ICE has projects in Australia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Its portfolio comprises projects totaling 200 gigawatts of onshore wind and solar power. The output from these projects could produce more than 14 million tons of green hydrogen or 80 million tons of green ammonia annually.
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Stefan Kaufmann will remain the German government's "Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen." Key positions are typically adjusted after elections to reflect any changes in the political landscape. The hydrogen commissioner's role, held by Stefan Kaufmann, a member of the CDU, is located within the Federal Ministry of Education and Research ; Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger is a member of the FDP. The position was created by the Federal Cabinet in June 2020 as part of the National Hydrogen Strategy. The new coalition agreement stipulates its continuation in 2022, including an update.
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The Bavarian company Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH is supplying its "HyShip 72" fuel cell system to the Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri SpA. According to the company, the delivery includes two fully redundant systems for supplying energy to the electric propulsion system and other consumers on board the ship "ZEUS" (Zero Emission Ultimate Ship). The ship's construction was funded by the Italian government as a research platform. According to Fincantieri, it serves as a "floating laboratory" to study the behavior of fuel cells "in a natural environment." The aim is to improve the environmental compatibility of vessels such as cruise ships, yachts, ferries, and oceanographic research vessels. The Proton systems have a power output of 142 kilowatts and are equipped with a battery system and a metal hydride hydrogen storage system.
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Salzgitter AG and the Danish company Ørsted A/S have entered into a strategic partnership. Under the agreement, Ørsted will supply electricity generated from offshore wind farms for hydrogen production, which will then be used to manufacture low-carbon steel as part of the SALCOS project. In return, the energy supplier will purchase low-emission steel from the steel company for use in components for Ørsted's offshore wind farms. The agreement also includes plans to recycle scrap metal from decommissioned wind turbines into the steel production process.
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An international consortium is planning one of the world's largest hydrogen projects in Oman. The energy center, called Green Energy Oman (GEO), is to be developed in the Al Wusta Governorate, reports the daily newspaper " Oman Observer ." At full capacity, solar and wind power plants with an installed capacity of 25 gigawatts could produce around 1,8 million tons of green hydrogen and 10 million tons of green ammonia per year. A final investment decision (FID) for the multi-billion-dollar project is planned for early 2026, according to the article. Implementation is expected to take place over a period of ten years. The consortium includes the oil and chemical company OQ, the Australian hydrogen project developer Intercontinental Energy (ICE), and Kuwaiti company Enertech.
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The European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) initiative is expanding its membership. Six natural gas transmission system operators are joining: AB Amber Grid (Lithuania), Bulgartransgaz EAD (Bulgaria), Conexus Baltic Grid AS (Latvia), Gassco (Norway), Plinacro doo (Croatia), and REN SA (Portugal). This brings the total number of participating companies to 29, representing 27 countries . Founded in 2020, the initiative aims to develop a European hydrogen market and a pan-European hydrogen transport infrastructure based on the existing 40.000-kilometer natural gas network.
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The Allane Mobility Group (formerly Sixt Leasing SE) will receive up to €11,4 million from the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP) of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDV). The funds will be used to promote the marketing of up to 800 new Hyundai "NEXO" vehicles with environmentally friendly hydrogen and fuel cell technology to leasing customers. This equates to approximately €14.200 per vehicle, reducing the net lease payment to around €719.
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US fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems will deliver eight more 200-kilowatt fuel cell modules to Canadian Pacific (CP) in 2022. This will increase the company's number of hydrogen-powered locomotives from one to three. The transcontinental railway company announced in November that it would receive a grant of 15 million Canadian dollars (10,5 million euros) from Emissions Reduction Alberta for this purpose. Ballard will thus supply a total of 14 such fuel cell modules for this program.
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The two South Korean port cities of Busan and Ulsan, along with the province of South Gyeongsang, plan to replace their city buses with conventional combustion engines with 624 fuel cell buses by 2025. According to the business newspaper " Aju Business Daily, " the Ministry of Environmental Protection has pledged 300 million won (221.000 euros) in funding for this project as part of a cooperation agreement with Hyundai Motor. Hyundai will also test a fuel cell-powered intercity bus. The ministry and the automaker will collect NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) data, as well as information on the bus's cost-effectiveness and performance, the newspaper reports. The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the cities of Busan and Ulsan, and Gyeongsang Province will jointly establish hydrogen refueling stations. More than 38 hydrogen refueling stations are planned to be built nationwide by 2022.
Photos
iStock / © Danil Melekhin
