Carbon capture modules installed at Air Products’ gray hydrogen plant in the Netherlands

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On November 11, the first batch of carbon capture modules arrived successfully at Air Products’ existing gray hydrogen plant in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. These modules will be installed at Air Products’ HyCO4 plant, which produces 300 tons of hydrogen per day, to capture carbon dioxide emissions generated in the steam methane reforming process. According to Air Products, the first batch of prefabricated modules was transported via a chartered ship and has been successfully delivered to the ExxonMobil refinery for installation. The carbon capture system of this project is designed to reduce the factory’s carbon dioxide emissions, and it is expected to capture more than half of the carbon dioxide generated during the steam methane reforming process. The project plans to transport the captured carbon dioxide to the North Sea and store it there permanently, using the Porthos infrastructure, in order to achieve long-term emission reduction goals. Although the hydrogen produced by this project does not yet meet the EU’s \"low-carbon\" standards, its implementation will effectively reduce the costs for this factory under the Emissions Trading System (ETS). Air Products stated that the construction of this project is in line with the global trend toward green and low-carbon development, and it will provide valuable experience for the promotion of clean energy projects in the future. The project was announced in 2023 and is expected to be put into use in 2026. Mark van Wijk, Director of Large Project Development at Air Products, said that as the prices of emission allowances continue to rise, ETS costs have become an important incentive for companies to reduce their emissions. He pointed out that approximately 100 million tons of hydrogen are produced without emission reductions worldwide, accounting for about 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions. By cleaning up existing hydrogen production facilities, it is possible to make a significant contribution to achieving global emission reduction goals.