Ineos Phenol and Engie Test Hydrogen in Cogen Plant
Ineos Phenol and utility group Engie are planning a pilot project in Doel, Belgium, that will use hydrogen in a commercial-scale cogeneration plant, replacing the natural gas feed for generating electricity and heat. Initially, 10% of the gas feed will be replaced with hydrogen and, if all goes well, this will be increased to 20%. Engie is responsible for the design, installation and operation of the technology.
According to Ineos Phenol, this is the first time that such tests have been carried out on an industrial scale in Belgium, adding that the combined heat and power plant at Doel has an “ideal” profile to realize the test.
“This test is fully in line with Ineos’ strategy to avoid CO2 emissions at source,” said Hans Casier, CEO of Ineos Phenol. “It marks a further step for Ineos Phenol in Doel, where 20% green steam is already being purchased via the connection to the Ecluse network. Today, Ineos already produces 300,000 t of hydrogen on an annual basis as a co-product of its chemical processes.”
The initiative is part of the roadmap that Ineos defined late last year for its sites in Antwerp, Belgium, to become climate neutral by 2050 and to cut emissions by 55% by 2030 (based on 1990 levels).
Ineos and Engie are also part of the power-to-methanol project in the Port of Antwerp. A consortium of seven industrial players will build a demonstration plant at Inovyn’s site on Scheldelaan to produce methanol from captured CO2 in combination with sustainably produced hydrogen. Annual production of 8,000 t methanol is expected to start up at the end of 2022.
Last November, Ineos launched a clean hydrogen business to accelerate the drive to net-zero carbon emissions. Headquartered in the UK, the business aims to build capacity to produce hydrogen across Ineos’ network of sites in Europe, in addition to partner sites where hydrogen can accelerate the decarbonization of energy.
Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist
