Open Online Conference: Green H2 and CO2 as feedstock for the industry

As the global energy transition accelerates, green hydrogen emerges as a pivotal solution for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors. However, its widespread adoption is hindered by high production costs. In this presentation, we explore strategies for reducing green hydrogen costs by technological advancement, economies of scale, supportive policy frameworks, and cross-sectoral cooperation.

While many sectors can be decarbonized through electrification and the use of hydrogen, hard-to-abate sectors - specifically heavy-duty transport sectors and the chemical industry - will continue to require carbon-based feedstocks and fuels. To meet this demand sustainably, carbon must be sourced from renewable and circular alternatives, which include both bio-based, waste-derived and captured CO2. In the Voltachem program the focus is on Power-to-X based CCU, but many synergies are possible with bio- and waste-based processes. Additionally, the chemicals and fuels sector will become even more integrated than they are today, allowing for synergies between both sectors in the transition.

What are the critical success factors for building a profitable and scalable green hydrogen supply chain? Using the groundbreaking Holland Hydrogen 1 project as a real-world case study, we try to provide an answer to this question. As one of Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen facility, HH1 exemplifies how strategic partnerships, integration with offshore wind, advanced electrolyser technology, and infrastructure readiness can drive both sustainability and commercial viability. We will gain insights into what Shell see as the critical aspect to further enhance  affordable green hydrogen related to Electrolyser design, Operational excellence and Grid Integration.

Renewable ethylene, a key sustainable alternative to fossil-based ethylene, faces significant economic challenges, with production costs ranging from three to nine times higher than the prevailing market price. To systematically explore pathways for cost reduction, this study applies a three-level analytical framework encompassing technological innovation, process optimization, and system-level integration. Through this lens, nine distinct cost projections for the year 2050 are developed, each reflecting varying assumptions about learning rates and deployment scales. The findings highlight the critical role of coordinated advancements across all three dimensions to achieve competitive pricing and support the broader transition to a low-carbon chemical industry.

The IPOSH project presents a system-level design approach to optimize the balance of the stack (BoS) configuration for an offshore multi-MW PEM electrolyser. The PEM electrolyser is connected to an offshore wind farm and operates independently of the grid. The optimized balance of stack configuration is selected based on a multi-criteria analysis. Further, we explore various operating strategies and their influence on this optimized system design, with a focus on minimizing the levelized cost of hydrogen.

The Belgium-based tech company D-CRBN is using innovative non-thermal plasma technology to convert CO₂ into CO — fully electrified, solvent-free, and catalyst-free. This modular and scalable approach offers a sustainable solution for industries looking to reduce their carbon footprint and replace fossil-based feedstocks with recycled CO₂.

In this webinar, CEO Gill Scheltjens will present the key results, insights, and lessons learned from the company’s first pilot project, which successfully brought the technology to TRL6.