Page 154 - CW E-Magazine (31-12-2024)

News from Abroad

PROJECT PROGRESS
Inpex begins FEED work on blue hydrogen project

in Japan

Inpex Corporation, Japan’s largest
exploration and production company,
has commenced front end engineering
and design (FEED) work preparations
for a blue hydrogen production project
with commercial prospects in Niigata
Prefecture, Japan, that will leverage
the company’s natural gas fields and
existing natural gas infrastructure.
Inpex has so far completed the concept
development and feasibility studies for
the project.
Prefecture and neighbouring regions as tion of blue hydrogen sourced from
The project involves plans to con- fuel and raw material for power genera- domestic gas.
struct a new hydrogen plant with a pro- tion and heating applications. Further-
duction capacity of ~ 100-ktpa in Nii- more, CO generated during the hydro- As per ‘Inpex Vision @2022’, Inpex
2
gata Prefecture that will source its raw gen production process will be captured is seeking to develop a hydrogen and
materials from natural gas produced and injected (as a carbon capture and CCS/CCUS business as one of its
at the Inpex-operated Minami-Nagaoka storage (CCS) initiative) into depleting five net zero business initiatives. The
Gas Field (Nagaoka City, Niigata gas fields in Niigata Prefecture, ena- company plans to commercialise three
Prefecture) as well as LNG received at bling the hydrogen to be marketed and or more projects in this field by around
Inpex’s Naoetsu LNG Terminal (Joetsu utilised as blue hydrogen. 2030 and aims to produce and supply
City, Niigata Prefecture) mainly from 100-ktpa or more of hydrogen/ammonia
Ichthys LNG. The project is one of the few in targeting a CO injection volume of
2
Japan that can both enhance national 2.5-mtpa or more in around 2030. This
The produced hydrogen is expected energy security and supply low-carbon project is expected to play an important
to be marketed to customers in Niigata energy through the large-scale produc- role in the achievement of these goals.
RESEARCH PROJECT
Sinopec produces green hydrogen from seawater
at Qingdao refinery

China Government owned energy innovative approach not only offers lysis, seawater is split into hydrogen
and chemicals major, Sinopec, has a new solution for coastal regions to and oxygen, with the produced hydro-
announced the completion of “China’s utilise renewable energy for green gen seamlessly integrated into the
first factory-based seawater hydro- hydrogen production but also provides an Qingdao refinery’s pipeline network
gen production research project” at alternative pathway for the resourceful for use in refining processes or hydro-
its Qingdao refinery in Shandong utilisation of high-salinity industrial gen-powered vehicles. The entire pro-
province. wastewater, Sinopec said. duction process occurs within a factory
setting, ensuring efficiency and opera-
The project integrates direct sea- The project adopts a factory-based tional stability.
water electrolysis with renewable operation model, leveraging part of
energy-powered green hydrogen pro- the green electricity generated from Seawater hydrogen production
duction, achieving an hourly output of Qingdao refinery’s floating photovol- holds significant potential. By directly
20 cubic metres of green hydrogen. This taic power station. Through electro- converting seawater into hydrogen,

154 Chemical Weekly December 31, 2024

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