Equinor and Engie to develop production of low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas in Belgium

Brussels, December 16 - Neftegaz.RU. Norway's state-controlled Equinor and French utility Engie want to produce cost-competitive hydrogen at large gigawatt scale from natural gas using autothermal reforming (ART) technology combined with carbon capture and storge (CCS) in Belgium.

The captured CO₂ will be transported in liquid form and will be permanently stored at a site on the sub-surface of the Norwegian North Sea.

The 2 companies move forward with the H2BE project that fits well the Belgian and Flemish hydrogen strategies.
Belgium released its Hydrogen Strategy in October and the H2BE project is to help deliver on the strategy.
The venture will see the duo launch a feasibility study to access the technical and economic suitability of a site in the Ghent area of Belgium.

Grete Tveit, Equinor’s Senior VP for Low Carbon Solutions says:

• We are delighted to launch the H2BE project
• Equinor believes that hydrogen and CCS are vital to succeed with the energy transition and to reach net-zero ambitions
• Together with our partners we have a strong and complementary expertise covering all parts of the value chai

News of the hydrogen project follows a MoU inked between Engie and Equinor back in February, through which they vowed to develop low carbon hydrogen projects collaboratively.

Edouard Neviaski, CEO of the Engie's entity Global Energy Management says:

• Engie is convinced that decarbonized thermal energy is required to achieve carbon neutrality in our economy, alongside renewable electricity sources
• We are glad to pursue our work on this project with Equinor, a long-standing partner for more than 40 years
• We are convinced that our project is a strong tool for a successful implementation of the Belgian hydrogen strategy