Detailed design for the green hydrogen demonstration project in Kuche, Xinjiang begins
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The last edit of this post was made by Zhi Zi Ming on 2022-1-12 at 20:36. Recently, a mobilization meeting for the detailed design work of the green hydrogen demonstration project in Kuche, Xinjiang, was held at the Guangzhou (Luoyang) Engineering Company. This project is the first in China to utilize photovoltaic power generation on a large scale for the direct production of hydrogen; it is also the country’s first demonstration project for producing 10,000 tons of green hydrogen via photovoltaics. The construction of this project includes five main components: photovoltaic power generation, power transmission and distribution, water electrolysis for hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen transportation. The project is expected to be completed and put into operation in June 2023, with an annual production capacity of 20,000 tons of green hydrogen once operational. The green hydrogen produced will be supplied to Sinopec Tahe Refining & Chemical Co., Ltd., to replace hydrogen produced from existing natural gas-based fossil fuels. It is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 485,000 tons per year.
This project is a combined facility for water electrolysis hydrogen production and solar photovoltaic power generation. The photovoltaic power generation capacity of this project is 300 MWp, and 52 alkaline electrolyzers are installed for hydrogen production. During periods of photovoltaic power generation, both the electrolyzers and other electrical equipment are powered by electricity generated from the photovoltaic systems； During periods when photovoltaic systems do not generate electricity, purchased green power is used to keep some electrolyzers operating continuously. The hydrogen produced by the hydrogen production unit is sent to the storage tank area for storage; it is then pressurized to 3.2 MPag using a hydrogen transmission compressor and delivered via pipelines to the Tahe Refining and Chemical Plant for use. The scale of hydrogen production via electrolysis in this project is 20,000 tons per year, which is equivalent to 26,420 Nm3/h.
This project is a combined facility for water electrolysis hydrogen production and solar photovoltaic power generation. The photovoltaic power generation capacity of this project is 300 MWp. A total of 52 alkaline electrolyzers are installed for hydrogen production; during the period of photovoltaic power generation, both the electrolyzers and other electrical equipment are powered by electricity generated by the photovoltaic systems ； During periods when photovoltaic systems do not generate electricity, purchased green power is used to keep some electrolyzers operating continuously. The hydrogen produced by the hydrogen production unit is sent to the storage tank area for storage; it is then pressurized to 3.2 MPag using a hydrogen transmission compressor and delivered via pipelines to the Tahe Refining and Chemical Plant for use. The scale of hydrogen production via electrolysis in this project is 20,000 tons per year, which is equivalent to 26,420 Nm3/h.
The hydrogen production plant is located in Wuzun Town, Kuche City, while the photovoltaic power plant is situated in the Gobi desert of Yahai Town, to the northeast of the hydrogen production plant.
52 alkaline water electrolyzers, with an annual hydrogen production capacity of 20,000 tons, which means each electrolyzer produces 400 tons of hydrogen per year. Assuming 8,000 hours of operation per year, each electrolyzer generates 50 kilograms of hydrogen per hour. It is difficult to calculate the circulation rate of potassium hydroxide solution. It seems that Guangzhou’s engineering sector is transforming at a rapid pace.
Is there ten hours of photovoltaic power generation per day? Do the other ten hours of green electricity refer to wind power? I think there’s an issue with the installation capacity of this project.
In Tahe, there are still 10 hours of sunlight per day. Furthermore, this project only involves the large-scale use of green electricity; it does not represent a complete replacement, and natural gas should still be used at other times.
The article states that during periods when photovoltaic systems do not generate electricity, purchased green power is used to keep some electrolyzers operating continuously. It seems that green hydrogen should be used entirely, rather than hydrogen produced from natural gas.