Inventory of nine global green hydrogen projects in 2022

At present, the world's largest PEM electrolysis plant is a 20MW plant built by Air Liquide in Canada. 2020 to 2030 is a decade of rapid development of hydrogen energy, and electrolysis plants with a hundred times the capacity level will appear in the later stage of this stage. This report rounds up some of the world's largest gigawatt-scale green hydrogen projects to watch.

1. HyDeal Ambition (67GW)

HyDeal Ambition, located across Western Europe - from Spain and eastern France to Germany - will use 95GW of solar energy to power its 67GW electrolyzers. About 30 energy players will make the project possible, including gas suppliers Snam, Enagás and OGE; electrolyzer manufacturer McPhy, among others. The project could help reduce the cost of green hydrogen transmission in Europe to €1.50/kg by 2030 and is expected to produce 3.6 million tonnes of hydrogen per year.

Completion date: 2030

2. Reckaz (30GW)

The dry steppes of western and central Kazakhstan are a haven for solar and wind energy. Germany-based Svevind Energy will work with Kazakh Investment Corporation to capture these renewable energy sources to produce clean hydrogen. Utilizing nearly 45GW of wind and solar energy could generate 3 million tons of green hydrogen per year.

Completion date: 2028

3. Western Green Energy Hub (28GW)

South-eastern and western Australia will witness many green hydrogen-focused developments. About 50 GW of wind and solar energy will be used for the 28 GW electrolyser. A consortium including InterContinental Energy and CWP Global is investing in the sector, selling homegrown green hydrogen to the commercial sector in the surrounding area. The plant is expected to produce up to 3.5 million tons or 20 million tons of chlorosodium. Construction costs for the plant are estimated at $70 billion. Most recently, it received permission from the Western Australian government to conduct a possibility study.

Completion date: 2028

4. Aman (16-20GW)

Mauritania is the first African country on the list ready to develop a green hydrogen plant. It will capture 30GW of wind and solar energy to power the electrolyzers of the hydrogen plant. The project is owned by CWP Global, with which the Mauritanian government is negotiating as of June 2021.

Completion date: unspecified

5. Green Energy Oman (14GW)

The facility will be operated by a consortium of companies including Intercontinental Energy, Oman Oil and OQ, and Kuwait's state-owned technology organization EnerTech. Nearly 25GW of wind and solar, as well as hydro, will drive 14GW of electrolyzers. The project is likely to be completed by 2038, with about 33% of the project ready to be commissioned by 2028. Although the total cost of the project is not known, a small portion (33%) of the project is estimated to cost $10 billion.

Completion date: 2038

6. Asian Renewable Energy Hub (14GW)

The Pilbara region of Western Australia is another opportunity for Australia's green hydrogen story. Powered by 16GW of offshore wind and 10GW of solar to drive 14GW of electrolyzers, the Asian Renewable Energy Centre can produce 1.75 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year (which will provide 9.9 million tonnes of green alkali). The project could cost as much as $36 billion to construct.

Completion date: 2027-28

7. NortH2 (not less than 10GW)

Located in the north of the Netherlands and powered by offshore wind energy, NortH2 hopes to produce 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year. Owned and operated by Shell, Equinor, RWE, Gasunie, the seaport of Groningen, NortH2 plans to help boost heavy industry in the Netherlands and Germany. Currently, a feasibility study is underway.

Completion date: 2040 (1GW in 2027, 4GW in 2030)

8. AquaVentus (10GW)

The green hydrogen plant in Heligoland will use offshore wind energy. Owned by a consortium of 47 institutions including the Rheinland Group, Vattenfall, Shell, E.ON, Siemens Energy, Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, Nordland Power, Gasunie and Parkwind, the plant is possibly the largest in Germany with Plant in close cooperation with the European Hydrogen Organization. Their goal is to produce 1 million tons of hydrogen per year.

Completion date: 2035 (30MW in 2025, 5GW in 2030)

9. Egypt (unnamed) 100MW

The unnamed facility in Egypt is touted as the world's largest electrolysis plant. In fact, it will be five times the size of the current largest electrolysis plant. Developed by Norwegian renewable energy producer Scatec, Abu Dhabi Fertiglobe (fertilizer producer), Egypt's sovereign fund and Cairo-based Orascom (engineering and construction contractor), it is working hard to be completed in time for the opening of the COP27 summit in Egypt. Backed by a renewable energy grid, the consortium aims to build a 100-megawatt electrolyser.