Get set for green hydrogen

The most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen, has an essential role to play in reaching a net zero carbon world.

Driven by ever-growing demand, governmental commitments to decarbonise and technological advances in clean production, hydrogen’s share of the global energy market is expected to soar from around 3% today to as much as 24% by 2050. Green hydrogen’s time is at hand – and SPIE has both the expertise and the value chain presence to succeed in this high potential market.

Hydrogen’s efficiency, versatility and sustainability have long earned it a reputation as the fuel of the future, with a key role to play in the energy transition. While its cost of extraction and lack of infrastructure have stood in the way of its widespread adoption, hydrogen investments today are proliferating; according to Forbes, the EU alone has allotted an estimated $550 billion to hydrogen production and infrastructure through to 2050. As a solutions integrator with a market position and technological capabilities in nearly all renewable sectors, SPIE is poised to assume a key position in the multifaceted hydrogen ecosystem.

At every step of the value chain, throughout Europe as well as in Australia, SPIE’s subsidiaries have the expertise that the hydrogen sector requires, both as a service supplier capable of adding value at every step, and as a solutions creator with the experience and partnerships necessary to implement all manner of projects. Underscoring the strategic importance of this new market, SPIE has set up an H2 Committee within the Industry strategic committee, both to support the energy transition and to enable SPIE to position itself as effectively as possible at the heart of this fast-growing market.

Guided tours of SPIE subsidiaries

Germany

Energiepark Mainz: Converting power surplus into hydrogen

In 2015, SPIE helped install the world’s biggest PEM1 -electrolysis system near the Mainz exhibition centre, in Germany. Designed to convert surplus electricity from wind farms by breaking down water into hydrogen that can be stored for future use, the Energiepark Mainz project plays an important role in Germany’s switch to renewables. “In the tender for the hydrogen feed system, we were able to prevail thanks to our technical and economic concept,” says Michael Heiber, head of service office GDRM (gas pressure regulating and measuring systems).

“SPIE is interested in this market not only because of its focus on the hydrogen issue, but also because of its ability to design, install and maintain cross-sectoral infrastructure. In particular, the integration and efficient linking of technical energy systems in industry, or the implementation of district solutions (including renewable energies) in connection with climate-neutral hydrogen, offering SPIE the opportunity to position itself in this key market of the energy transition.”

1. Polymer electrolyte membrane

The Netherlands

SPIE Nederland is a system integrator in the hydrogen field with technical capabilities and experience in building gas and electrical infrastructure as well as hydrogen production plants. Today, there are three major hydrogen approaches in the Netherlands.

- First, create a national hydrogen infrastructural network.
- Second, develop the required production capacity for hydrogen.
- Third, make the entire electrical grid capable of handling a threefold load increase compared to the current situation.

As a multi technical partner, SPIE Nederland will be a key player in all three of these areas.

Rogier Paanakker, business unit manager, Industry division, SPIE Nederland

Belgium

Cummins : SPIE goes from supplier to partner

For the past several years, the industry division of SPIE Belgium has been manufacturing gas separators in Geel and assembling them in Oevel as a preferred supplier of Cummins Inc. “Cummins, a global power leader, also provides turnkey hydrogen plants to customers all over the world,” says Jurgen Belmans, project manager in Geel. “These installations, with the exception of the connections on site, are entirely built at the Oevel production site in Belgium. Various vessels are used to produce or store hydrogen in the installations. It is these vessels that we at Geel workshops produce and deliver.
Recently, we also began producing the connecting pipes in the installations.” To meet growing demand for electrolysers, SPIE is strengthening its partnership with Cummins. “This is the technology of the future, and it’s great that SPIE can make its contribution,” adds Jurgen. “With Cummins, we can speak of partners instead of just suppliers.”

Jurgen Belmans, project manager in Geel, SPIE Belgium

The hydrogen market in Belgium is beginning to emerge, but as it is located in a geographic crossroads for transport it has enormous growth potential. The Belgian federal government has just announced a hydrogen vision and strategy with a view to enabling the country to rely exclusively on green hydrogen long before 2050. The strategy is based on four pillars including the establishment of a robust hydrogen market in Belgium via the import and transit of hydrogen and its derivatives using the already existing network of pipelines, as well as investments in infrastructure to extend the Belgian network and connect it with neighbouring countries.”

Jean Aerts, industry director, SPIE Belgium.

France

Through a €9 billion investment, France intends to become a low-carbon hydrogen leader by 2030. SPIE shares this ambition and has been engaged in the development of this fuel of the future for the past several years. As one of the nation’s major players in the installation and maintenance of solar, wind and water farms, we are stakeholders in the development of the renewable energies that will power tomorrow’s green hydrogen plants. We are also playing an active role in decarbonised hydrogen (‘green’) development as members of France Hydrogène at the heart of the hydrogen ecosystem.”

Christophe Dormois, business development and strategy director, SPIE Industrie & Tertiaire - Industrie division

Cherbourg : Paving the way for hydrogen-based mobility

Open since January 2021, the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin hydrogen refuelling station is the ninth in Normandy. Part of the EAS-HyMob initiative to build a regional network of hydrogen charging infrastructures, the Cherbourg station is the result of a consortium comprising SPIE’s industrial division, McPhy (equipment manufacturers) and GCMI (civil engineering). “Our role was the entire implementation and regulatory phase, starting with the engineering studies needed for the building permit and environmental declarations,” said William Valente of the Industrial Process & Energy Department at SPIE Industrie & Tertiaire - Industrie division. “We also handled detail design, installation and works in electricity, instrumentation, piping and insulation, commissioning and exploitation. Our expertise enables us to cover almost the full scope of a hydrogen production and distribution project and to offer our customers and partners tailor-made solutions according to their needs.” H2 refuelling stations like Cherbourg deliver 20 kg of hydrogen per day, making it possible to fuel 20 private vehicles or two buses per day. This is the birth of hydrogen mobility. William adds, “Hopefully there will be hundreds of stations like this in ten years. Mobility is a first step, but the major developments to come will be in the industrial or intermittent energy storage sectors. Our advantage is that we have the expertise to address all of it.”

William Valente, business manager, Industrial process & energy department, SPIE Industrie & Tertiaire - Industrie division

Australie

Hydrogen Park Gladstone: Supplying a city with hydrogen blended gas

SPIE Oil & Gas Services is contributing its expertise to the Hydrogen Park Gladstone plant, the first whole of network decarbonisation project in Australia. The plant will be equipped with an electrolyser to produce hydrogen, which will be blended with natural gas and connected to the existing natural gas distribution network to supply Gladstone’s total 770 residential, small commercial and industrial customer base. “SPIE’s main contribution to this project is our expertise in electrical and instrument design with particular reference to hazardous environments,” says Victor Di Camillo. “The design criteria for a hydrogen facility are very similar to a natural gas facility and our experience in this area has been beneficial to delivering a compliant design.” The hydrogen market in Australia is expanding rapidly, and SPIE’s expertise means it is particularly well positioned to take advantage of this growth momentum. Victor adds, “From our experience as a company with major hazard facilities, this knowledge directly transfers to the hydrogen industry. Many of our existing energy clients who operate in the natural gas industry are diversifying into hydrogen and we are well placed to continue to support them in the years ahead.

Victor Di Camillo, general manager in Australia, SPIE Oil & Gas Services