Chemicals group Ineos has unveiled plans to invest over €2bn ($2.3bn) in green hydrogen production at sites across Europe. The company’s first electrolysers will be installed in Norway, Germany and Belgium in the next ten years, with projects also planned in the UK and France.

“Green hydrogen represents one of our best chances to create a more sustainable and low-carbon world,” says Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos. “Europe is crying out for more investment in green hydrogen and Ineos’ announcement shows our determination to play a leading role in this important new fuel.”

Ineos will kick off the investment programme in Norway, where it plans to install a 20MW electrolyser at its Rafnes complex. The project will cut around 22,000 t/yr CO₂ from the site’s existing operations, as well as serving as a hub for supplying hydrogen to the Norwegian transport sector.

“Europe is crying out for more investment in green hydrogen” Ratcliffe, Ineos

In Germany the firm plans to deploy a 100MW electrolyser at its Cologne site, where the green hydrogen will be used to decarbonise the production of ammonia. This will result in a reduction of over 120,000 t/yr CO₂.

Ineos says it will also pursue opportunities to develop e-fuels through power-to-methanol applications on an industrial scale.

“Ineos is uniquely placed to play a leading role in developing these new opportunities, driven by emerging demand for affordable, low-carbon energy sources, combined with our existing capabilities in operating large-scale electrolysis,” says Geir Tuft, CEO of Inovyn, a unit of Ineos.

Ineos is also developing projects in Belgium, France and the UK and it expects to announce further partnerships with other organisations to develop new hydrogen applications.

The firm’s hydrogen business will be headquartered in the UK. Ratcliffe has previously voiced concerns over the pace of development in the hydrogen sector in the UK—claiming it is falling behind Germany—and has stressed the need for government support in the form of legislation and investment in hydrogen infrastructure.

“Ineos also intends to work closely with European governments to ensure the necessary infrastructure is put in place to facilitate hydrogen’s major role in the new green economy,” the firm says.

Last month Ineos committed £500mn ($687mn) to plans for a 150,000 t/yr blue hydrogen plant to decarbonise its refinery and petrochemical operations at Grangemouth in Scotland. Ineos Grangemouth will also spend £500mn fitting out its facilities so they can run on hydrogen, estimating that at least 70-80pc of operations can be adapted.

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Author: Stuart Penson