SEFE, Höegh Evi & the EU's Burgeoning Hydrogen Supply Chain

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SEFE and Hoegh Evi are set on developing hydrogen supply lines throughout Europe | Credit: SEFE
German and Norwegian organisations SEFE and Höegh Evi have signed an MOU to partner on building Europe's hydrogen supply chain using ammonia cracking

Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) and Norwegian company Höegh Evi have joined forces on a collaborative venture which may provide a huge boost to the hydrogen power industry.

The two organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together on creating supply chains dedicated to clean hydrogen, using ammonia as a primary source.

This process requires ammonia is heated until it evaporates, at which point it is fed into a reactor to split into hydrogen and nitrogen. Then, the hydrogen can be cooled and purified. 

This initiative between SEFE and Höegh Evi signals a growing desire to integrate hydrogen into Europe's clean energy matrix.

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Building a clean hydrogen foundation

The memorandum lays the groundwork for a robust structural and commercial framework specifically geared towards supplying clean hydrogen. Central to this plan is the import of ammonia which is shipped to various European destinations.

Once it arrives, the ammonia undergoes a conversion process known as "cracking", transforming it into hydrogen which is then channelled into Germany's hydrogen network, serving various consumers.

Integral to this strategy are floating terminals that convert ammonia to hydrogen. These are monumental in facilitating a more extensive reach across Germany's Baltic and North Sea coasts among other pivotal points in Europe.

(Credit: Höegh Evi)

In our relentless quest to provide our customers with competitive clean hydrogen, we are pleased to be partnering with Höegh Evi to explore the technical and economic viability of different supply chain opportunities.

With Höegh Evi’s pioneering technology in the field of floating import terminals including the cracking of ammonia to hydrogen within the terminal and the deep customer understanding we have gained over the last decades, we have the best conditions to develop international clean hydrogen supply chains to make the energy transition a reality

Hamead Ahrary, Chief Sustainability Officer for SEFE

These terminals are designed to furnish a stable source of hydrogen at an industrial scale, accommodating the fluctuating demands of hydrogen with ease and efficiency.

Functioning at different ends of this supply chain, SEFE is set to undertake tasks from sourcing ammonia globally to fuelling the European hydrogen demand and refining its subsidiary GASCADE's capabilities in the German hydrogen market.

Höegh Evi, on the other hand, will manage the logistics involving sea transport and the operation of the floating terminals that house the ammonia-to-hydrogen conversion technologies.

The strategic location of these floating terminals and their operations are geared to provide a constant, ready supply of hydrogen, pivotal for addressing energy demands variably yet consistently.

Hamead Ahrary, Chief Sustainability Officer for SEFE

Expanding hydrogen's horizons

Reflecting on their previous collaborations, SEFE and Höegh Evi are building upon this momentum to widen Europe's energy spectrum. Noteworthy is SEFE's pact in 2024 with Brazil's Eletrobras and Kuwait's EnerTech, promising the delivery of 200,000 tons of green hydrogen to Germany annually by 2030.

This venture leverages Brazil's rich hydropower resources to produce hydrogen which is then transported for distribution across Germany and onward to various European locales.

Meanwhile, Höegh Evi, freshly rebranded from Höegh LNG, is shedding its exclusive focus on liquefied natural gas to embrace a broader role in the clean energy shift, including hydrogen and ammonia infrastructures and carbon capture.

Recently, Höegh Evi instituted a project to develop a novel hydrogen import terminal partnered with the French port of Port-La Nouvelle aimed at setting a European odyssey in hydrogen imports and thus, fostering quicker adoption of clean energy across the continent.

Erik Nyheim, Chief Executive Officer of Höegh Evi, affirms, “Establishing global supply chains for hydrogen is a major step towards advancing the energy transition in Germany and Europe.”

He further exemplifies SEFE's pivotal role in this aspiration, alongside Höegh Evi's commitment showcased through their elite floating infrastructure and hydrogen solutions which carve a path to significant decarbonisation in Europe.

Erik Nyheim, CEO of Höegh Evi

What does the future of European energy look like?

The trajectory of hydrogen as a cornerstone in Europe's energy revolution is fortified by the collaborative strides taken by SEFE and Höegh Evi.

Their focused initiatives address the intricate challenges of hydrogen procurement, mobility, conversion and broad-scale distribution.

By harmonising their floating terminal strategies and strategically positioned infrastructural nodes, this alliance crafts a resilient hydrogen network throughout Europe.

As clean energy demands burgeon, the combined forces of SEFE and Höegh Evi signify a milestone in building a sustainable energy framework for the continent.


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