Biohydrogen – Prospects in a Transatlantic Perspective

Research & Technology Seminar – Intersection of Energy, Agriculture and Biotechnology – 16-08-04

Elisabet Fjermestad HagenDirector Hydrogen Business DevelopmentNorsk Hydro ASA

EFH • Date: 2004-08-16 • Page: 2

Overview

Brief presentation of Norsk Hydro

EU Policy on energy

Why renewables – why hydrogen?

Pathways for biomass to hydrogen

Information sources and contacts

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Progress of a different nature

Hydro is a Fortune 500 Energy and aluminium supplier with 36,000 employees in more than 40 countries.

Hydro has solid experience in offshore oil and gas production and is heading one of the world’s most spectacular deep see offshore field development projects

Hydro is the third largest integrated aluminium supplier in the world.

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Decison on public listing of

Agri under the name

YARA

Decison on public listing of

Agri under the name

YARA

Norsk Hydro Solutions for sustainability

The second largestThe second largestproducer of oil andproducer of oil andgas on the Norwegiangas on the NorwegianContinental Shelf Continental Shelf

The third largest The third largest integrated aluminium integrated aluminium supplier in the worldsupplier in the world

The world’s leading The world’s leading supplier of plant supplier of plant nutrientsnutrients

Oil & EnergyOil & Energy

NOK 60 bnNOK 60 bn

AluminiumAluminium

NOK 69 bnNOK 69 bn

AgriAgri

Operating revenues 2003: Company total: NOK 172 bn

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Hydro positioning in renewables and hydrogen

Hydro power Wind power Solar energy - integration in

Hydro building systems Preparing for a future position

as a hydrogen supplier Venture investments in

promising technologies wave energy ++

CO2 separation and storage for converting natural gas to power and hydrogen

Green certificates trading

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Overview

Brief presentation of Norsk Hydro

EU Policy on energy

Why renewables – why hydrogen?

Pathways for biomass to hydrogen

Information sources and contacts

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EU policy on energy – anchored to three key goals

Reducing emissions of CO² and pollutants.

- Environment

- Employment

Reducing imports

- Security of supply

Local job creation

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2500

3000

3500

4000

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

Business as usual

Commitment EU-15

Mt of CO2

Year

CO2 considered main emission problem

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EU targets for renewables – key driver for business action

EU-target: 12 % of electricity from renewables in 2010(equals 270 TWh)

Growing support for hydrogen – public incentive programmes in the transport sector, but still no formal targets.

Renewables target - EU 1997-2010, status 2001

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

TW

h

Status 2001 Target 2010

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European H2/FC Technology Platform

Advisory CouncilIncl. Executive group

Strategic ResearchAgenda

Deploymentstrategy

Member States’Mirror group TP secretariat

Steering-panels

Initiative groups

H2/FCRoad map

Public awareness

Safety, codes &

standards

Finance & Business

Dev.

Education & training

Platform activities/projects

HLG vision

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Overview

Brief presentation of Norsk Hydro

EU Policy on energy

Why renewables – why hydrogen?

Pathways for biomass to hydrogen

Information sources and contacts

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Energy supply today depends almost 80% on fossil fuels

54

8

11

Primaryenergy carriers

Secondaryenergy carriers

End-use transportation, heating, industry, households

Fossil fuels Nuclear Renew ables

Electricity

all figures in 1000 T W h/year

Source: IEA 2002 (World 2000 data)

Current energy supply systemCurrent energy supply system

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Direct replacement : Significant reduction of flexibility Biomass not well suited for large-scale distribution to end-

users Limited resource availability for use as transport fuel

A new secondary energy carrier needed – hydrogen is the most versatile: Hydrogen can be produced from nearly all energy carriers Hydrogen can be used for all energy needs, using different

conversion technologies Hydrogen offers possibilities for electricity storage Hydrogen allows virtually emission-free end-use

Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources

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Overview

Brief presentation of Norsk Hydro

EU Policy on energy

Why renewables – why hydrogen?

Pathways for biomass to hydrogen

Information sources and contacts

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Possible pathways to renewable hydrogen

Renewable energy sourceWind, solar, hydro, wave, geothermal… Biomass, waste

Hydrogen

Photo-electrolysis

Electricity

Gasification Pyrolysis

Electrolysis Photolysis

Fermentation Anaerobic digestion

Heat

Thermolysis

Electrochemical Biochemical Thermochemical

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1. Hydrogen production from renewable sources – direct hydrogen production

Thermochemical processes Gasification or pyrolysis the most

promising medium term technology

Biochemical processes Very early stage of development - low conversion efficiencies

Photoelectrolysis Early stage of development – material cost and practical issues to be

solved

Transp., heating, industry, household

Renewable energy

ElectricityHydrogen

1 2

4

3

5 6

7

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2. Hydrogen production from renewable sources – indirect hydrogen production

transp., heating, industry, household

Renew ables

ElectricityHydrogen

1 2

4

3

5 6

7

Hydrogen production using electricity

electricity from renewable sources

splitting of water by electrolysis

Water electrolysis represents mature technology

wind/wave/solar/hydro/biomass/biogas/waste

hydrogenwater electrolysiselectricity

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Biomass gasification for hydrogen production - status

No commercial biomass gasification processes exist

Gasification technology to convert biomass into hydrogen rich synthesis gas has been demonstrated

Cleaning technology to produce clean syngas from biosyngas for production of hydrogen is available

Logistics is a challenge, usually only economic at large scale

Large- scale supply requires a large market

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Biomass to hydrogen: Optimum pathway “tailor made”

Optimum choice of energy resource and technology depends on resource availability and market demand both vary with location and time

Feedstock Product

Property of feedstock

Availability

Logistics

Quality

Price

Capacity

Conversion

Technology

Experience

Cost

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BTL- Biomass to liquid – an intermediate solution?

BTL production - A two-stage process:1. Production of synthesis gas from biomass gasification (H2 and CO)2. Hydrocarbon synthesis over a Fischer Tropsch Process catalyst to

obtain a dieselfraction mixture (BTL fuels)

Addition of external hydrogen to the process can significantly improve the process results (Choren – see attachment))

The BTL process can also be used to produce hydrogen

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BTL- Biomass to liquid – an intermediate solution?

BTL fuels can be used directly in diesel engines or mixed with diesel.

BTL fuels could largely enhance the market share of biofuels beyond the EU target of 6 % in transport for 2010.

Use of added hydrogen to enhance the process and/or co-production of BTL fuels and hydrogen could provide a cost –efficient pathway to large volume renewable hydrogen production

Of interest for Norway? Raw materials: agricultural residues (e.g. straw), forest residues or energy plants grown for the purpose (short rotation trees or other cellulose material)

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Biomass gasification for hydrogen production– Research needs – Prospects for collaboration

Development needed to improve the economics of production processes and logistics of feedstock

Feed Preparation

Biomass Gasification

Raw Gas Handling and Clean-up

Interface Issues and System Integration

Information Dissemination and Policy

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Overview

Brief presentation of Norsk Hydro

EU Policy on energy

Why renewables – why hydrogen?

Pathways for biomass to hydrogen

Information sources and contacts Main source basis: IEA Hydrogen Implementing Agreement

Annex 16: HYDROGEN FROM CARBON CONTAINING MATERIALS- Subtask B: Biomass to hydrogen

http:/www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen/iea/

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IEA HIA - SUBTASK B: BIOMASS TO HYDROGEN

Objective: Evaluate the technical and economic potential of different applications and establish R&D needs

Main activities:B1: Biomass to Hydrogen: State of the Art and Research Challenges

        B2: Networking and interaction with other IEA Tasks and other research groups

B3: Analysis of Scenarios for Deployment: Feed-stocks, ConversionTechnology and Market Opportunities

         B4: Processes and fundamental work:          Hydrogen from Biomass Gasification Technologies         High Pressure Aqueous Processing         Biological processes         Pyrolysis

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Available reports

Biomass to Hydrogen: State of the Art and Research Challenges - NREL

http:/www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen/iea/

Biomass Gasification for Hydrogen Production – Process description and research needs - IEA Bioenergy Thermal Gasification Task /GTI

http://www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen/iea/

The role of biomass in a hydrogen economy – ECN

http:/www.ecn.nl/library/reports/2003/c03028.html

Renewable Hydrogen – BTG, Hydro, Uppsala University

(Supported by EU 5th FWP – report under preparation)

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For more information contact:

Elisabet Fjermestad HagenHydro Oil & EnergyN - 0246 OSLO+ 47 22 53 7584elisabet.fjermestad.hagen@hydro.com

www.hydro.com www.electrolysers.com

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Attachments

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Brief description of the Choren BTL process- Diesel fuel based on biomass, using hydrogen addition in process

The technology: The Choren process is characterized by a two stage gasification of

biomass. The technology of the first stage may give rise to substantial energy profit. The second stage reactor is relatively unique by allowing both high temp. gas burning and gasification of the coal powder.

Adjustment of the optimal H2/CO ratio of approximately 2:1 by supplying hydrogen from electrolysis and increase of diesel production from 30.2 litre/hour to 53 litre/hour can be obtained.

Another advantage of external hydrogen supply is that the CO contained in the synthesis gas will not be consumed for hydrogen production via the shift reaction (and emitted as CO2)

All CO entering into the subsequent FT unit will result in increased total FT-product yield

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Input from the EU study Renewable Hydrogen

The following key project deliverables, relevant to biomass to hydrogen, are available:

List of European projects and networks focusing on hydrogen from renewable resources

An extensive overview of possible thermo-chemical biomass to hydrogen conversion technologies including their current status and applicability to different types of biomass

A comprehensive list of pilot projects on biomass conversion technologies (mainly different gasification, pyrolysis technologies), which can potentially be used as the basis for the development of future biomass to hydrogen conversion technologies