Small-scale green hydrogen production facility

Introduction

The Green H2 project plans to produce green hydrogen using a 1 megawatt (MW) electrolyser system, strategically located next to the refinery in Gdańsk, Poland. The project’s objective is to build a modular and scalable hydrogen production system that includes an electrolyser powered by solar panels along with energy management and residual heat recovery systems. The green hydrogen produced will be used by the nearby refinery.

Storage and Utilization

The system will also include a storage facility for compressed hydrogen, so that the hydrogen produced can also be used for other sectors. The project aims to achieve a 100% relative greenhouse gas (GHG) emission avoidance over its first ten years of operation.

Decarbonization of Hydrogen Production

The Green H2 project plans to modernize and decarbonize the current method of industrial hydrogen production. Hydrogen is currently produced through steam reforming of methane, a fossil fuel. This project will replace the current technology with electrolysis, powered by renewable electricity.

Moreover, the project involves not only the integration of the electrolyser, but also an energy management system, heat recovery, and a dedicated renewable energy source, which will maximize the energy and cost efficiency of the green hydrogen production process.

Innovation and Application

The main innovation of the project is an unprecedented integration of these subsystems and their application in a full-scale installation. The green hydrogen that is produced will be connected to a refinery in Gdańsk. However, the installation will enable the creation of dispersed hydrogen production points, which can be tailored for other locations and applications. This will allow the green hydrogen that is produced to be used in other locations and sectors of the economy.

Environmental Impact

Globally, hydrogen is produced primarily through the high-emission methane steam reforming process, which has an emission intensity of approximately 8.85 kg of CO2 equivalent per 1 kg of hydrogen. The Green H2 project replaces this technology with a zero-emission and energy-efficient process, with the option to re-use the waste heat produced by the electrolysis.

It will directly contribute to reducing the GHG emissions of the refinery industry and create the possibility of producing emission-free hydrogen for use in other sectors of the economy. Implementation of the project will directly result in the avoidance of approximately 9,375 tonnes CO2 equivalent over a period of ten years.

Modular Design and Scalability

The Green H2 project has a modular design with the option to scale up, which allows the operation of distributed hydrogen production systems and thus the supply of hydrogen to local consumers. Such independence not only allows the development of a dispersed network of installations but also the dissemination of green hydrogen as a decarbonized alternative to conventional fuels.