Trillium H2 Power LLC (tH2 Power) has awarded Shell Catalysts & Technologies a contract to deliver a Shell Blue Hydrogen Process (SBHP) license agreement.
Columbus, Ohio, USA– The license is for tH2 Power, which involves building multiple large-scale, low-carbon-hydrogen-fuelled power generation and manufacturing projects at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in rural Pike County, Ohio, with additional sites in Central Appalachia.a
All tH2 Power projects will begin with the production of 500 t/d of decarbonised (blue) hydrogen in Phase 1. Natural gas will be used for the feedstock, and the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by this process will be captured and permanently stored in the geologic formations available throughout the region. A portion of the decarbonised hydrogen will fuel low-carbon power, sustainable transportation fuels and other low-carbon products. The total amount of CO2 stored at each site is expected to be approximately 1.6 M tonnes per annum.
The SBHP uses Shell gas partial oxidation (SGP) technology and, in comparison with other technology options (including steam methane reforming [SMR] and autothermal reforming [ATR]), it captures CO2 at higher pressures and larger scales, which results in a lower levelised cost of hydrogen and lowers the overall lifecycle emissions at each site.
Nick Flinn, Vice President, Decarbonisation Technologies, Shell Catalysts & Technologies, said: “The maturity and credibility of the technology was key to this deal. Newpoint was looking for a proven concept, so the Pearl GTL plant in Qatar, in which 18 SGP trains have been operating since 2011, was a valuable reference for them. Another important aspect was the fact that the SBHP can achieve a high carbon-capture rate with a simple line-up and with no need for the complex recycles that are inherent in the alternative technologies.”
Zane Rhodes, Co-Founder, Trillium H2 Power LLC,b observed: “Established manufacturers with a proven track record of safe reliable operations were key factors in our evaluation of processes to consider for the tH2 Power projects, with Shell’s SBHP being the obvious choice. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Nick Flinn and his team in the national effort to re-shore US manufacturing by producing clean blue hydrogen with the lowest emissions.”
About the SBHP
The SBHP offers significant advantages over alternative technologies.
Compared with other technologies, it has a simpler line-up, with no need for substantial feed gas pretreatment, and does not require a fired heater that emits carbon dioxide. It also generates, rather than consumes, steam to satisfy the demands of the process.
These benefits translate to a lower levelised cost of hydrogen and lower carbon intensity.
It integrates two proven technologies: ADIP ULTRA and Shell gas partial oxidation (SGP). ADIP ULTRA is a proven solvent technology for capturing carbon dioxide from high-pressure process streams, whereas SGP is an oxygen-based system with direct firing in a refractory-lined reactor. It requires little or no feed-gas pretreatment, is a non-catalytic process that produces high-pressure steam from waste heat rather than consuming it and has no direct carbon dioxide emissions. SGP has more than 30 active gas and residue gasification licensees, and there are more than 100 SGP gasifiers worldwide.
About Shell Catalysts & Technologies
Shell Catalysts & Technologies exists to provide Shell and non-Shell businesses with the tools, technologies and insights that are needed to navigate the energy transition.
We are pushing boundaries in the energy transition space. For decades, we have been developing game-changing technological innovations to help solve challenges that were previously thought to be unsolvable. Now we have, or are developing, a wide range of differentiated solutions that offer attractive decarbonisation opportunities, including biofuels, carbon capture and decarbonised (blue) hydrogen technologies.
What sets us apart is the knowledge we have gained from Shell’s corporate heritage as the operator of refineries and petrochemical plants around the world. It also gives us a unique perspective on how refiners can remain competitive.
Our world-class catalyst and research and development expertise has enabled us to establish a strong track record for developing leading-edge zeolites and catalysts, advanced solvents and pioneering processes, and it provides a strong foundation for our future technology development.
For more information, visit www.shell.com/ct.
About Trillium H2 Power
Trillium H2 Power LLC (tH2 Power) is pioneering a revolutionary approach to clean energy and economic rejuvenation in the Appalachian region. Its mission is to create a commercially viable and groundbreaking clean-energy model that is intricately linked with commodity manufacturing. Leveraging the existing infrastructure in areas previously devastated by the closure of coal and other projects, tH2 Power aims to transform these towns through job creation and local investments. Its innovative Integrated Energy System-Closed Loop Manufacturing (IES-CLM) focuses on producing clean silicon and ammonia via the generation of low-carbon hydrogen. This unique approach not only integrates power generation with commercial sale but also incorporates carbon capture, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. tH2 Power stands at the forefront of a clean-energy future, promising significant economic and environmental benefits for the Appalachian region.
About Trillium Piketon
At the core of tH2 Power’s innovation lies the integration and co-location of reliable technology platforms with a history of safe operations. This includes hydrogen production with carbon sequestration facilities for producing clean ammonia, metallurgical grade silicon and hydrogen-fuelled clean power generation. This unique combination of technologies is designed to foster industrial decarbonisation, using low-carbon hydrogen as the fuel and primary feedstock. tH2 Power’s ambitious projections include the daily production of 500 metric tons of low-carbon hydrogen, 150 MW of power, 1,200 metric tons of ammonia and 100 metric tons of silicon. These targets not only represent a significant advance in environmental sustainability but also showcase the project’s economic viability, backed by thorough commodity cost analysis and market pricing sensitivity.
Choosing Pike County, Ohio, as the site for the tH2 Power complex is a strategic decision that leverages the county’s history with government-owned facilities and its pre-existing energy infrastructure, such as high voltage electrical systems and regional transmission connections. This location offers optimal access to transportation and utility services, which are essential for the efficient distribution of the produced commodities and their integration into national supply chains. tH2 Power’s commitment goes beyond merely producing energy; it is about revitalising local economies and stimulating regional development with a focus on creating more than 1,900 construction and 235 long-term quality jobs. This decision underscores the company’s comprehensive approach to sustainable development, emphasising not only the transition to clean energy but also the revitalisation of communities and economies in the Appalachian region.
Read the most up to date Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industry news at FuelCellsWorks
