ABB is collaborating with Lhyfe and Skyborn to jointly realize and optimize Europe’s one of the most ambitious renewable hydrogen projects ever, SoutH2Port.
The new hydrogen production plant, operated by Lhyfe and Skyborn, will be situated in the municipality of Söderhamn, Sweden, and connected to Skyborn’s 1 GW offshore wind farm in nearby Storgrundet. When fully operational, it is anticipated to produce about 240 tons of hydrogen per day, with an installed capacity of 600 MW, making it one of the largest suppliers of renewable hydrogen in Europe.
The collaboration aims to create a seamless supply chain to accelerate the energy transition, with hydrogen playing a crucial role in achieving the world’s climate goals when it comes to decarbonizing the industrial and transportation sectors. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the companies, ABB will optimize the integration of the hydrogen and electricity production across the entire ecosystem, including automation, electrical and digital technologies, and drive the development of scalable, commercial energy transition projects in and around the region.
ABB’s critical expertise in automation, electrical and digital technologies, and power-to-X conversion technologies will enable the development of carbon-neutral energy carriers such as hydrogen, storing energy for later use, and contribute to the decarbonization of the Swedish energy system. The project will also further contribute to boosting the attractiveness and competitiveness of the region and local society through the creation of new jobs and business opportunities.
The SoutH2port project will support Sweden’s plans to become the world’s first fossil-free welfare country by 2045, either directly with hydrogen supply or by further downstream production of refined fuels such as methanol, sustainable aviation fuel, or ammonia.
“This collaboration is a key part of our strategy in both the hydrogen and offshore wind markets,” said Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries. “Creating a seamless supply chain, through partnerships such as these, is essential to accelerate the energy transition. Hydrogen plays a crucial role in helping achieve the world’s climate goals when it comes to decarbonizing the industrial and transportation sectors.”
Taia Kronborg, co-founder and Chief Business Officer at Lhyfe, said, “By combining our expertise and solutions, we can cost-effectively and safely expand the value creation attached to the scale up of renewable hydrogen production. Skyborn’s track record in offshore wind power, Lhyfe’s expertise in renewable hydrogen production coupled with ABB’s technological expertise creates new opportunities for enabling Power-to-X solutions linked with renewable hydrogen production at scale.”
The new plant is expected to begin operations in 2024 and has the potential to become one of the largest suppliers of renewable hydrogen in Europe, contributing significantly to the region’s energy transition.
