US project to supply green hydrogen to biorefinery

Solar power will be used to produce hydrogen, which will then be supplied to a U.S. biorefinery.

Two Italian companies, Enel Green Power and Maire Tecnimont’s NextChem, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a green hydrogen project in the U.S. using solar energy. The hydrogen, to be produced via electrolysis using renewable power from one of Enel Green Power North America’s solar power plants, will be supplied to a biorefinery—likely a renewable diesel plant, although Maire Tecnimont would not confirm this with Biobased Diesel Daily, nor would the company provide any other details outside of what was published in its Dec. 11 press release.

NextChem will act as technology and engineering partner and full turnkey EPC contractor, providing Enel Green Power with technical assistance for development and implementation of the project. The MOU is the first step in evaluating future joint projects between the two companies.

“We are actively scouting for opportunities in this segment in several parts of the world, both in Europe and in the Americas, and we look forward to joining forces with partners such as Maire Tecnimont to make the most of the significant potential that green hydrogen represents for the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors,” said Salvatore Bernabei, CEO of Enel Green Power.

Pierroberto Folgiero, Maire Tecnimont Group and NextChem CEO, said, “The American market is once more really interesting for us, and we are looking at it with great attention.”

The project is expected to be operational in 2023.