ABB to electrify two green hydrogen plants in North America

The first plant, Project Gateway, in Genesee County, New York, US, will be North America’s largest green hydrogen production facility, providing the northeastern US daily with 45 t of green liquid hydrogen, which contains as much energy as 126 t of gasoline and equates to 14 000 tpy of CO₂.

ABB will provide the full electrical system encased in an ABB eHouse solution – a prefabricated, walk-in, modular outdoor substation hosting a range of electrical, automation and ancillary equipment that provides the site and process power. ABB’s prefabricated and pre-tested solution reduces both the costs and time needed for installation and commissioning.

ABB will also supply gas and air-insulated switchgear, low voltage motor control centers, along with low voltage variable speed drives for auxiliary applications. Medium voltage VSDs will be applied to multiple motors in sync bypass mode. Used as compressor starters, these drives allow smooth process control, and reduce stress to equipment and utility loads by limiting inrush current and power demand during the process start. The plant will use Plug Power’s proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through an electrochemical process, using clean New York hydropower.

With a similar scope of work, Plug Power’s second plant, Peachtree, in Camden County, Georgia, US, will produce 15 tpd of liquid green hydrogen using 100% renewable energy, serving customers in the southeastern US.

The hydrogen produced will be used for logistics and transportation sectors, enabling users to replace fossil fuels in on-road applications such as heavy-duty freight vehicles and forklifts.

Demand for hydrogen, which has grown more than threefold since 1975, continues to rise. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), green hydrogen is currently enjoying unprecedented momentum, with the number of policies and projects around the world expanding rapidly.

ABB is collaborating with customers and partners around the world to develop and integrate technology that will make hydrogen an accessible, affordable component of the world’s low-carbon energy mix. These two projects are an important part of Plug Power’s plans to build additional plants around the US to offer green hydrogen that is cost-competitive with fossil fuel energy to customers looking to meet their sustainability goals.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/10032022/abb-to-electrify-two-green-hydrogen-plants-in-north-america/