TotalEnergies, Air Liquide commit to producing hydrogen at zero crude platform

French companies TotalEnergies and Air Liquide have signed a long-term contract to produce and valorise renewable, low-carbon hydrogen at the Grandpuits zero crude platform.

The contract will see TotalEnergies purchase the hydrogen produced for the needs of its platform while Air Liquide will invest over €130 million in the construction and operation of a new unit producing hydrogen.

As explained, this unit will partly use biogas from the biorefinery built by TotalEnergies and will be delivered with AirLiquide’s carbon capture technology CryocapTM.

These innovations will prevent emissions amounting to 150,000 tons of CO2 a year compared to current processes, the partners stated.

TotalEnergies, which is joining the first Hydrogen Area at this year’s Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference 2022, coming up on 29 and 30 November in Amsterdam, said its biorefinery will use the unit’s hydrogen to produce sustainable aviation fuel. 

“By recycling the biogas produced by the biorefinery into renewable hydrogen, this innovative project makes full use of the conversion of the Grandpuits refinery into a zero crude platform harnessing the potential of biomass, especially in the production of sustainable aviation fuel”, commented Bernard Pinatel, President, Refining & Chemicals, TotalEnergies.

“Combined with the production of low-carbon hydrogen and the capture of CO2, this project contributes to TotalEnergies’ ambition to decarbonise all of the hydrogen used by its European refineries by 2030.”

“This innovative project is characterised by the combination of several solutions in order to produce renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, and contribute to the decarbonisation of TotalEnergies’ Grandpuits site. It also provides the opportunity to recycle CO2 as part of a circular economy approach while securing its supply for agri-food applications”, added Pascal Vinet, Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Committee, Air Liquide, in charge of Europe Industries activities.

“This project illustrates Air Liquide’s expertise in working with its customers on customized solutions to help them reduce their carbon footprint and actively participate in the fight against global warming. It provides yet another example of the key role that hydrogen will play to succeed in the energy transition.”

In 2021, the two companies, together with their international partners, initiated the creation of the world’s largest clean hydrogen infrastructure solutions fund – the so-called Hy24.

Last month, Hy24 announced the closing of its first hydrogen impact fund – Clean H2 Infra Fund – at €2 billion of allocations, exceeding its initial ambitions.

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