Provaris Energy Ltd (ASX:PV1) has completed a pre-feasibility study (PFS) in partnership with Norwegian Hydrogen AS, demonstrating the potential for low-cost delivery of green hydrogen from Norway to Europe, starting in 2027.
In January 2023, Provaris and Norwegian Hydrogen entered a collaboration to accelerate the development of a hydrogen value chain covering large-scale production and export of hydrogen from the Nordics to the key ports of Europe.
A preferred site in Norway has been identified for the development of a production facility to deliver up to 50,000 tonnes of green hydrogen to Europe, commencing in 2027, with a competitive delivered cost of hydrogen that includes a marine transport cost of EUR 1.00-1.50/kg (includes: compression, jetty, storage, shipping, scavenge and discharge).
The scope of the PFS includes the selection of a preferred coastal site in Norway, renewable power supply, production of hydrogen, compression facilities, infrastructure requirements for jetty loading, Provaris’ H2Leo storage solution and a fleet of two H2Neo carriers, and import partners required at the identified import location connected to the planned EU H2 backbone and distribution system.
Read: Provaris Energy launches H2Leo - a large-scale, floating, compressed hydrogen storage solution
The partners are now advancing development activities for permitting, and key agreements to support the completion of detailed feasibility in 2023, and target first exports in 2027.
Provaris managing director and CEO Martin Carolan said: “Provaris is delighted with the outcomes of the study which has continued to mature the technical or economic requirements of the project.
“Compression has been demonstrated to be a highly flexible solution for variable hydrogen production, storage, and transportation.
“The flexibility and added value that compression offers while providing balancing services to the local grid is complimented with a positive impact on the LCOH of hydrogen delivered to Europe.
Cross-border hydrogen backbone HyPerLink
Germany and the Netherlands are considered key import locations for bulk-scale hydrogen and are well advanced in planning and development of the dedicated hydrogen backbone and HyPerLink project.
HyPerLink is to develop an open access, cross-border hydrogen backbone in Northern Germany, and connection between large-scale intake of hydrogen and final consumers in industrial and urban centres in Northern Germany and future hydrogen storage facilities.
The project will result in a large-scale hydrogen network (up to 7.2 GW) with a total length of about 610 kilometres.
Source: Gasunie www.gasunie.de/en/the-company/gasunie-deutschland/project-hyperlink
An efficient grid system established from repurposing of existing gas storage and pipelines will allow for advantageous integration and operations with Provaris’ compressed hydrogen solution for the ports in Netherlands and Germany.
On the demand side, the hydrogen backbone can reach various consumers in the Bremen, Hamburg, but also Brunsbüttel / Heide and Hanover regions.
This will target direct connections to large industrial consumers (e.g. steelworks, refineries).
Additional sites identified for export of green hydrogen to Europe
Provaris and Norwegian Hydrogen will continue to focus on identified sites for green hydrogen export, with a relatively short sailing distance to some of the major planned hydrogen import hubs in the Netherlands and Germany, along with potential hub locations in Norway, Sweden and Denmark where Norwegian Hydrogen is developing a network of HDV stations through its subsidiary Vireon.
Nordic region provides a strategic advantage to key H2 markets in Europe.
Norwegian Hydrogen is taking a leading role in the North European zero-emission hydrogen market by offering green hydrogen to a wide range of mobility and industrial users with a focus on production and demand in the Nordics.
The company has established additional offices in Norway and has established itself as a developer of green hydrogen supply in Norway with its foundation project, the 3MW Hellesylt Hydrogen Hub Pilot-E project to be operational in 2023.
The collaboration with Provaris allows Norwegian Hydrogen to accelerate its ambitions for scaling-up volumes of compressed hydrogen from multiple sites across the entire Nordic region.
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