The industrial gas and engineering company Linde and the hydrogen infrastructure company GreenH have joined forces with SINTEF and Norconsult to investigate possibilities for establishing a plant for the production of green hydrogen on Langstranda in Bodø. The plant will produce both liquid and pressurized hydrogen, with direct delivery for maritime use and road transport in Bodø.
- The facility will be part of a local cluster. By producing and delivering the hydrogen locally, we eliminate the need for transport, which both reduces costs and is good for the environment ", says Morten Solberg Watle, general manager of GreenH AS.
Linde has very long experience with hydrogen production and offers state-of-the-art technology and solutions throughout the value chain; from electrolysis, liquefaction, storage, transport, bunkering and filling. In 2019, Linde had global sales of approximately NOK 20 billion in hydrogen, including over 80 electrolysers in operation, and approx. 200 filling stations globally.
- In addition, Linde has recently expanded its production capacity for the supply of liquid hydrogen in Leuna, Germany, corresponding to the production facility being considered in Bodø, says Øystein Aasland, Head of Process Industry Linde Gas AS.
The plant aims to supply hydrogen to the Norwegian Westfjords connection, which was recently announced by the government, but the ambitions around this plant are greater than the Westfjords. The plant will be central to a network that will not only supply hydrogen to boats, but also utilize oxygen, surplus heat, and supply hydrogen for other purposes, all without transport.
- This fit perfectly with Bodø's plans for a green and smart city in connection with the relocation of the airport, says Stian Erichsen, Vice President Business Development at Norconsult, responsible for overall engineering.
The locations are good news for Bodø municipality. This type of facility will generate investments of approximately NOK 750 million and is expected to provide positive ripple effects and value creation for both Bodø municipality and the region.
In addition, several synergies are achieved, where hydrogen can be laid in pipelines to filling points and surplus heat can be used in urban development.
The plant is scheduled to be operational in 2024.
About the companies
About Linde
Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2020 sales of $27 billion (€24 billion). We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain and protect our planet.
GreenH AS is a Norwegian company that establishes infrastructure for locally produced green hydrogen. The company aims to be a driving force on the road to the zero-emission society. GreenH is owned by Infranordic AS, which has more than 10 years of experience in renewable energy, mainly in the development and operation of small-scale hydropower plants in Norway. GreenH is Infranordic's hydrogen division. The company is headquartered in Oslo.
Norconsult is Norway's largest and one of the leading interdisciplinary consulting companies in the Nordic region with 4,300 employees and 40 man-years in R&D. The company has extensive experience in designing and establishing a gas structure. The company has offices all over the country.
SINTEF is one of Europe's largest independent research groups with 2,000 employees. In collaboration with NTNU, SINTEF has access to more than 12,000 m2 of advanced research infrastructure in our laboratories. SINTEF has rich experience from hydrogen projects at home and abroad.
Hydrogen facts:
Why hydrogen? Green hydrogen is environmentally friendly and with zero CO2 emissions.
Hydrogen produced by electrolysis only needs water and electricity, and there are no CO2 emissions from production. When hydrogen is then used in a fuel cell, for example to power a ferry, the only emission is heat and clean water.
The different colors of hydrogen
Gray hydrogen
Hydrogen produced from non-renewable sources. This can be, for example, gas reformation (conversion of natural gas) or through gasification of other fuels. Gas reforming has a negative environmental effect in the reforming itself of approx. 7kg CO2e per Kg H₂ produced¹ and a total carbon footprint of 10-14kg CO₂e per Kg H₂.²
Blue hydrogen
Hydrogen produced from non-renewable sources, where CO₂ emissions are reduced through CO₂ capture and storage (CCS). With CCS, CO emissions from gas reforming and gasification can be reduced by 50-95%.
Green hydrogen
Hydrogen production from renewable sources. This can be, for example, hydrogen produced by electrolysis with power from the sun, wind or water. The total carbon footprint will be less than 1 kg per kg H₂.³
Sources: (¹) Princeton University 1997, (²) f DNV GL Report No. 2009-0039 (³) DNV GL Report No. 2009-0039