Equinor and Engie Launch Low-Carbon Hydrogen Project in Belgium

By Dominic Chopping

Equinor ASA and Engie SA on Thursday announced the launch of the H2BE project, which aims to develop the production of low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas in Belgium.

The project aims to produce hydrogen from natural gas using autothermal reforming technology combined with carbon capture and storage.

The companies said ATR technology allows for decarbonization rates above 95% and for producing hydrogen at a large scale at competitive cost levels, with the captured carbon dioxide to be transported in liquid form and permanently stored at a site in the sub-surface of the Norwegian North Sea.

Engie and Equinor will now launch a feasibility study to assess the technical and economic suitability of a site in the Ghent area while commercial talks with potential hydrogen offtakers continue simultaneously.

Discussions are also continuing with the cross-border port area known as North Sea Port on integration with port infrastructure and the companies have joined forces with Fluxys Belgium SA, a gas-transmission system operator in Belgium.

All partners aim to start operations well before 2030 in order to contribute to Belgium's 2030 interim decarbonization targets, they said.

Write to Dominic Chopping at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 16, 2021 03:52 ET (08:52 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.