Everfuel and Hy24's JV to accelerate development of hydrogen infrastructure in the Nordics

JV highlights:

• Plans to invest a total of €200 million in equity in green hydrogen infrastructure in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. This will enable the JV to fund, build, own and operate up to 1 GW of green hydrogen projects.
• Accelerated delivery of existing hydrogen project pipeline and strengthened collaboration on other hydrogen production assets in the Nordic region HySynergy project phase 1 - 20 MW electrolyser, set to commence commercial operations in 2Q23, is the first asset to be held by the JV.
• Combined industrial experience and financial strength of two leaders within green hydrogen infrastructure.
• JV to leverage Everfuel’s electrolyser development, construction and operation capabilities.
• JV to benefit from Hy24’s extensive business development experience and vast hydrogen industry and policymaker relationships.

The JV combines Everfuel’s position as a pioneer and leading green hydrogen project developer in Europe and Hy24’s extensive industrial experience and financial strength. The JV’s first investment is to acquire the HySynergy Phase 1 20 MW green hydrogen production plant in Fredericia, Denmark, for a purchase price reflecting the costs incurred at signing, fewer grants received, subject to adjustment for additional costs incurred up until closing. The JV will further benefit from Everfuel’s pipeline of hydrogen projects as they are matured to final investment decision (FID) and transferred to the JV subject to predefined criteria.

The HySynergy Phase 1 electrolyser is expected to commence commercial operations in 2Q23 and will contribute to the significant decarbonisation of industrial processes at the adjacent Crossbridge Energy refinery. HySynergy will also offer a competitive supply of green hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for clean mobility. In December 2022, the HySynergy Phase 2 300 MW green hydrogen plant was granted IPCEI funding of €33.1 million to support the construction of the first of three 100 MW electrolysers.

Hy24, managing the world’s largest clean hydrogen infrastructure fund, is helping to realise hydrogen’s global potential as the low-carbon energy vector of the future by investing in the entire clean hydrogen value chain. The JV is aligned with Hy24’s ambition of unlocking strategic and large-scale projects under development to accelerate the scale-up of hydrogen markets in Europe, in the Americas and Asia Pacific regions. Hy24 is investing through its €2 billion impact fund ‘Clean H2 Infra Fund’ which was closed in October 2022.

Jacob Krogsgaard, the Founder and CEO of Everfuel, said: “This is a major step towards making green hydrogen commercially-available through an accelerated deployment of our hydrogen hubs. Hy24 is a leading global hydrogen infrastructure investor and the ideal partner and co-investor for us as the number one developer of electrolyser capacity in Europe. Together we can develop green hydrogen infrastructure needed to serve rapidly growing demand from industry and mobility across our core Nordic markets, and firmly move into the ramp-up phase of our long-term plan for growth and value creation.”

Pierre-Etienne Franc, Co-Founder and CEO of Hy24, added: “We launched Hy24 and the Clean Hydrogen Infrastructure Fund to help hydrogen leaders and entrepreneurs accelerate the scale-up of their projects, and to unlock the potential for the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. Everfuel is one of the most advanced project developers with a broad knowledge of hydrogen technologies, markets, and business models in the Nordics. It is therefore the natural partner for fast and wise developments."

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, commented: “I warmly welcome this important investment and JV between Everfuel and Hy24. Green hydrogen and e-fuels will play a big role in decarbonising industries such as shipping, aviation and heavy transportation. So, this is not only good news for the production of green energy in Denmark, but also for our global efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions. The investment underlines that Danish companies are frontrunners within green technologies. It also shows that Denmark remains an attractive destination for foreign green investments thanks to competitive framework conditions, supporting both Danish and European ambitious green policies and climate goals.”

The hydrogen plants owned and operated by the JV will support the ambitious Danish hydrogen roadmap. The country is planning to develop 4 – 6 GW of electrolyser production capacity by 2030 leveraging Denmark’s exceptional wind resources. Everfuel’s current project portfolio in Denmark includes more than 1.3 GW of electrolyser capacity.

Under the agreement, the JV will deliver revenue and cash flow to Everfuel through fees during the project development, construction and operation phases. Everfuel will also be entitled to defined development fees from the JV for projects reaching FID based on the return profile of each specific project. Everfuel retains an exclusive right to market merchant hydrogen volumes from the electrolysers owned and operated by the JV to support the growth of Everfuel’s downstream business activities. The JV will be named Everfuel Hy24 A/S and fully consolidated in Everfuel’s accounts.

The purchase price paid by the JV to Everfuel for the acquisition of HySynergy Phase 1 is estimated at €28 million. With the transfer of HySynergy Phase 1 to the JV, Everfuel will repay the outstanding €10 million loan provided by the European Investment Bank. Hy24 will also provide a bridge loan of €15 million to JV that is expected to be replaced with a larger facility from external debt providers as HySynergy Phase 2 is matured. Everfuel holds an option to purchase Hy24’s shares in the JV at a pre-agreed return within a specified time period.

Following completion of the JV's establishment, Everfuel is sufficiently funded to support its share of anticipated JV investments, including projects passed through FID, towards the end of 2023. As part of the JV incorporation, Hy24 has committed to participate in a potential future capital raise by Everfuel to support the company and the realisation of green infrastructure projects, subject to certain conditions.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/28022023/everfuel-and-hy24s-jv-to-accelerate-development-of-hydrogen-infrastructure-in-the-nordics/