ABB and Charbone Hydrogen sign MoU

This will provide a clean fuel source for existing hydrogen users and heavy industrial processes such as steelmaking, which currently use grey hydrogen as an energy source.

The scope of the MoU positions ABB as the preferred supplier for the design, engineering, fabrication, testing, and supply of modular and standard electrical substations (eHouses) for the interconnection between production facilities and local utilities. ABB will support Charbone in standardising basic engineering for systems and components across its project portfolio, to increase energy efficiency and reliability. Future scope may also see ABB operate as the main automation, electrification, and telecom contractor, depending on project requirements.

Among the sites covered by the collaboration is Charbone’s Sorel-Tracy facility near Montreal in Québec, Canada. The facility is expected to be connected to the Hydro-Québec grid by the end of 2Q25, using hydro electricity to power green hydrogen electrolysers. The plant will create a blueprint for the design and engineering of modular and scalable equipment for other sites being developed by Charbone. The next project to get underway will be in the greater Detroit area in the US, which is the manufacturing base for major automotive companies.

“This strategic collaboration with ABB is a strong signal about our proposition for the North American green hydrogen market,” said Daniel Charette, Chief Operating Officer of Charbone. “With the Sorel-Tracy project moving quickly to on-site activities, and the capabilities of plug and play modular approach to get production starting, Charbone will support the decarbonisation of industry.”

The government of Québec has developed a localised green hydrogen and bioenergy strategy to support the deployment of hydrogen and bioenergy to power industrial sectors such as transportation, primary metals, and chemicals. It identifies green hydrogen and bioenergy as having the potential to reduce Québec’s consumption of petroleum products by nearly 1 billion litres a year by 2030. This could cut the region’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 4000 tpy carbon dioxide – the equivalent of removing 1.2 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the roads.

“Green hydrogen has an important role to play in the transition towards a low carbon energy future,” added Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “We are proud to collaborate with Charbone on its strategy to develop and grow green hydrogen production facilities across North America, enabling an important sector to scale and supporting industries to outrun leaner and cleaner.”

In addition to the MoU, Charbone will acquire ABB’s extended operator workplace (EOW) system for all the planned facilities and a main operator workplace at Charbone’s headquarters to monitor all facilities. The EOWs will enhance production and reduce downtime via 24/7 monitoring from local and remote-control centres.

Global hydrogen demand, largely concentrated in the refining and chemical sectors, reached 97 000 tpy in 2023, representing an increase of 2.5% year on year. Low-emissions hydrogen production was less than 1000 t but it could reach 49 000 tpy by 2030, based on announced projects.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/14032025/abb-and-charbone-hydrogen-sign-mou/