Elkem plans to launch the hydrogen recovery project and cooperate with independent research institution SINTEF to make the hydrogen, a byproduct of Bremanger plant in Norway, into fuel through drying and compression for passenger transport, shipping and heavy haul transportation, so as to realize a new green value chain.
The total investment of the project is about NOK 15 million, and it has received financial support of NOK 4.4 million from Enova, a Norwegian environmental protection production and energy consumption agency. Upon completion, it is estimated that nearly 120 tons of hydrogen can be extracted each year, which is enough to provide fuel for 800 to 1,000 hydrogen-powered buses or a hydrogen-powered ferry.
Arne Werge-Olsen, Manager of the Elkem Bremanger plant, said: "We attach great importance to sustainable development and circular economy. Elkem Bremanger plant has always had a good tradition of developing new value chains. Since the 1980s, we have been selling silica fume, a by-product in the production process, and now it has become the main product. Although the hydrogen-powered vehicles and hydrogen market are still in the initial stage of development, we have begun to study how to use the surplus hydrogen in production to reduce emissions and generate revenue, provide customers with emission-free transportation solutions, and contribute to the goal of low emission society. "
"The project is a good illustration of how to make good use of waste energy, and its successful implementation will open up new ideas for other industrial manufacturing companies," said Oskar G?rdeman, Enova's Industrial Marketing Manager.
"The Elkem Bremanger plant has a competitive advantage in infrastructure construction and supply chain, and the new project is more conducive to the construction of hydrogen infrastructure in Norway and to achieve substantial emission reduction in the transportation industry," said Steffen M?ller-Holst, SINTEF's Marketing VP.