Sweco designs green hydrogen plant in Norway

INOVYN, a subsidiary of chemical company INEOS, plans to build one of Norway’s first green hydrogen plants. The new electrolyser will have a capacity of 20 megawatts. The CO₂ reduction amounts to at least 22,000 tonnes per year, a very significant reduction in INEOS’ carbon footprint in Norway. The Belgian and Norwegian experts from engineering firm Sweco will provide the conceptual engineering.

Filip Verheyen, Division Director Industry at Sweco Belgium, says: “INOVYN has found in Sweco an experienced engineering partner for the development of its hydrogen projects, ranging from feasibility studies to the further engineering steps of these projects. The first fruit of our collaboration will be the Aquarius project in Norway. For this project we have already supported INOVYN in drawing up a first cost estimate. For the new ‘conceptual engineering – select phase’ (FEL2) assignment we will work out an extensive Basis of Design. This will strengthen Sweco’s position as a frontrunner in sustainable hydrogen projects within Europe.”
Gaëlla Delcour, Operational Manager Process, Chemicals & Sustainable Solutions at Sweco Belgium, agrees: “Sweco has a number of important assets, such as our technical expertise in the engineering of industrial process installations and our extensive experience in hydrogen studies. Just think of Sweco’s close involvement in the green hydrogen plants for Vision H2 in North Sea Port and for Hyoffwind in Zeebrugge. Moreover, we can call on our local experts in Norway. So we already have extensive representation on site, which greatly benefits the professional execution and planning of the project.”

Green hydrogen and innovation go hand in hand
The European business world is increasingly stimulating demand for renewable or green hydrogen as a raw material for its industrial processes. No CO₂ is released during the production of green hydrogen by electrolysis with renewable electricity from wind or solar power. Hydrogen therefore plays a key role in the CO₂-free (process) industry of the future.

At the Rafnes site in Norway, INOVYN produces caustic soda, chlorine and vinyl chloride monomer. The new 20 MW electrolyser will produce pure hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis of water, based on green electricity. The Aquarius project will reduce CO₂ emissions by 22,000 tonnes and it will reduce the carbon footprint of the INEOS businesses in Norway.

Technology development in the project lies in integrating the water electrolyser without interfering with the core petrochemical process. The project requires that individual technologies are working together with high reliability. This will require innovation, testing, development of new models and systems for advanced process control.