Egyptian Electrolyser Tested Ahead of 2023 FID
Fertiglobe, which makes urea and ammonia, has started the first phase of its project to make hydrogen from renewable sources in Egypt, the company said today at an event at the COP 27 UN climate summit.
In the first phase of the project, the company is testing the "first and largest" polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyser in Africa, and it is finalising the engineering and technology choices for the full-scale 100MW facility ahead of a final investment decision (FID) in 2023.
Fertiglobe revealed plans for the full-scale facility last year, which would generate 15,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen feedstock per year to produce 90,000 tonnes of green ammonia at its two current ammonia plants near Suez. The volume of hydrogen produced by the first-phase facility was not specified, but it is expected to be much smaller.
Nassef Sawiris, a co-owner of Fertiglobe, says that the project was built on an "accelerated timeline" so that it could be shown at COP 27. He commended Egypt's supportive authorities for the quick delivery of the first phase. People have praised the government for being proactive about hydrogen, which has led to a large number of project ideas.
Egypt is "one of the best places in the world to develop a green hydrogen hub," thanks to its "available land, abundant renewable energy sources, a significant pool of skilled labour, and location on a global crossroads", according to Sawiris.
Source: Argus
