Powering the green hydrogen value chain
The International Energy Agency (IEA) sees green hydrogen as a critical piece of the puzzle in the global energy transition [1]. Momentum around green hydrogen is now building as companies and governments look for scalable solutions to address climate change.
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5min
2024-07-24
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Green hydrogen, produced using renewable electricity, is a key to the energy transition, both as a carbon-free fuel itself, and as a means of storing and transporting energy.02
Green hydrogen holds particular promise in so-called "hard-to-abate" sectors, such as metals and cement, where full electrification is a challenge.03
Technology from ABB helps optimize the full green hydrogen value chain, spanning production, storage, transportation and end use.Green hydrogen is a clean energy carrier produced by splitting water molecules through an electrochemical procedure called electrolysis. What makes it “green” is that it uses renewable electricity (unlike its "grey" and “blue” counterparts, which are powered by fossil-based energy), and boasts a clean production process, generating only water vapor as a byproduct. With electricity representing the majority of production costs, unlocking the potential of green hydrogen hinges on maximizing energy efficiency.
Optimizing power for green hydrogen production
Electrolysis is an energy-intensive process. The efficiency with which an electrolyzer converts water and electrical energy into hydrogen directly impacts the overall cost and sustainability of green hydrogen production. Electrolyzers require a direct current (DC) power supply to function. However, the electricity generated from renewable sources like solar and wind is typically alternating current (AC). Technologies called rectifiers bridge this gap by converting fluctuating grid voltage and frequency into a steady DC supply, ensuring consistent and efficient power delivery to the electrolyzer.
The resulting hydrogen can then be stored efficiently – as compressed hydrogen gas, in liquefied form, or converted to ammonia or methanol – to be used later, for example in fuel cells that provide electricity when renewable sources are unavailable. In essence, green hydrogen acts as a kind of battery, storing renewable energy and enabling grid stability with a high penetration of clean energy sources.
In addition to rectifiers, variable-speed drives (VSDs) play a significant role in green hydrogen production. VSDs power pumps in water treatment plants to deliver ultra-pure water to electrolyzer arrays and control centralized water-cooling systems. They are also used to run compressors efficiently, refrigerating and liquefying the hydrogen gas produced.
Progressing the energy transition at any acceptable pace and scale will require balance between existing and new solutions such as green hydrogen, driven by collaboration and partnerships. We recognize the critical role of green hydrogen on the path to net zero and as part of global decarbonization efforts. Keeping a lid on costs through efficient and reliable operations is crucial for the sector in achieving scale. Our expertise in automation, electrical and digital solutions empowers the entire green hydrogen value chain – from production to storage, transport and end use.
Per Erik Holsten, President, Energy Industries, ABB
Today's drive technology offers precise torque and speed control to optimize the performance and efficiency of motors, along with capabilities to smooth out fluctuations in the power supply and help overcome the intermittent nature of solar or wind-powered grids.
With green hydrogen, backed by rectifiers and VSDs, one of the biggest barriers to renewable adoption – intermittency – is far more manageable. Green hydrogen is therefore not just a mechanism for storing and moving energy, but a driver of renewable energy uptake.
An example of ABB’s work in this space is the HyPilot project, the green hydrogen pilot underway at the Gassco-operated Kårstø Gas Processing Plant in Rogaland, Norway.
ABB is providing critical power supply technologies for the project's one-megawatt containerized electrolyzer, along with medium-voltage switchgear and transformers, ensuring a stable and efficient flow of electricity to the electrolyzer.
Another example of ABB's collaborative approach to green hydrogen projects comes from the SoutH2Port facility in Sweden. Partnering with Skyborn and Lhyfe, ABB is working to connect the former’s offshore wind farm with the latter’s onshore electrolyzer in this large-scale green hydrogen production project. This collaboration underscores ABB's commitment to clean energy integration, ensuring a reliable and efficient connection between renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production.
Technology innovations and green hydrogen
ABB offers a wide range of green hydrogen solutions, spanning grid and plant infrastructure, high-efficiency motors for pumps and pipelines, instrumentation, leak detection systems, fuel cells and more.
Our focus on integrating automation and digital systems allows for the real-time monitoring and control of various parameters within a hydrogen plant, such as temperature and pressure. This allows for proactive maintenance, preventing unplanned downtime and ensuring the smooth operation of the site, while minimizing energy consumption.
ABB Ability™ OPTIMAX®, a sophisticated energy management system designed to optimize the entire hydrogen production process, enables operators to identify inefficiencies and implement corrective actions. By leveraging advanced analytics and predictive modeling, OPTIMAX® optimizes energy flow, integrates renewable energy sources and manages energy storage assets for maximum efficiency. This holistic approach to energy management is crucial in reducing production costs – by as much as 20 percent – and accelerating the commercial viability of green hydrogen.
Embracing automation and digital solutions not only optimizes energy use within the facility but also empowers operators with deeper understanding and control over the entire green hydrogen production process. This fosters a data-driven approach to plant management, leading to improved reliability and efficiency.
An example of ABB's portfolio in action is Hydrogen City in south Texas. Under this collaboration agreement with Green Hydrogen International (GHI), ABB will assess the deployment of its automation, electrification, and digital technology solutions throughout this major green hydrogen facility. This includes integrated control systems, electrical motors and drives, measurement and analytics solutions, and power and process optimization solutions.
The role of green hydrogen in decarbonization
Perhaps the greatest benefit of green hydrogen lies in its ability to decarbonize those segments of the economy that can be difficult to electrify directly, often referred to as "hard-to-abate" sectors. These sectors, including heavy industry (e.g., steel, cement) and transportation (e.g., long-haul trucking, shipping, aviation) are major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions.
While electrification is core to the energy transition, it's not always a practical solution for these sectors due to limitations like battery range for heavy-duty vehicles or maritime shipping, or the extremely high temperatures required in some industrial processes. Here, green hydrogen serves as a clean and versatile alternative energy carrier. It can be stored and transported efficiently, such as in fuel cells to power heavy-duty trucks and ships. In industry, it can replace fossil fuels for high-temperature processes or be used as a clean feedstock in various production cycles.
At ABB, we are developing technologies that optimize green hydrogen production, storage, transport and consumption, empowering hard-to-abate industries to transition away from fossil fuels. By facilitating the efficient adoption of green hydrogen in these critical sectors, we’re helping them accelerate their decarbonization plans.
Nora Han, VP, Hydrogen Product Group, ABB
Highlighting the versatility of green hydrogen as a clean fuel source, ABB's traction system technology is powering the FLIRT H2, the first hydrogen-powered train in the United States.
This project goes beyond showcasing innovation; it demonstrates the tangible application of green hydrogen technology in a real-world transportation application.
The FLIRT H2 trains are comprised of two cars, each equipped with ABB's advanced traction converters and battery packages.
These systems ensure efficient power delivery from the onboard hydrogen fuel cells to the train's motors, enabling clean and sustainable operation. This project serves as a steppingstone for wider adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the transportation sector, a key area for achieving global decarbonization goals.