The HyPilot project will be delivered at the end of 2023 at the Kårstø Gas Processing Plant in Rogaland, Norway. Other project participants include Equinor, Yara, and Gassco.
ABB’s low-harmonic insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) rectifiers and DC-DC converters will regulate the supply of electricity to enable the electrolyser to operate under realistic field conditions. ABB will provide local support and expertise on the ground in Norway throughout the project’s duration.
Operators will gather data during the 10,000-hour trial to demonstrate that green hydrogen can be produced cost-effectively and reliably by utilizing renewable energy sources, such as wind power, which is dependent upon overcoming the intermittent nature of renewable energy. The HyPilot project aims to demonstrate how Hystar’s electrolysers can be utilized to reduce the cost of green hydrogen on an industrial scale, providing performance data from various operating regimes to verify long-term commercial operation.
Fredrik Mowill, CEO of Hystar, said: “HyPilot represents an important milestone for the green hydrogen industry, as it unites leading industry players behind Hystar’s patented, ultra-efficient electrolysers. ABB’s important contribution will support us in rigorously testing under a range of conditions, facilitating the widespread adoption of large-scale green hydrogen production.”
Chris Poynter, Division President, ABB System Drives, added: “The electrolyser power system minimizes the network’s harmonic content and footprint while maximizing efficiency and power factor. This helps drive down the levelized cost of green hydrogen production, which is a key factor to accelerate its adoption. At ABB, we stand for productivity in a low-carbon world, so we are proud to work closely with Hystar and other stakeholders to help build the new hydrogen ecosystem with our domain expertise and technology.”