BP PLC is joining with renewable-energy company Orsted A/S to produce hydrogen from wind power

"This is the oil company's first big project in a sector that it -- and the wider industry -- believe will play a role in the transition to low-carbon energy.

Using renewable power such as wind and solar to produce hydrogen, instead of fossil fuels such as gas or coal, is expected to be important for reducing global carbon emissions -- although it remains a more expensive option. While hydrogen only makes up a small amount of the world's energy use -- mostly for refining and chemical production -- it is responsible for significant emissions.

Under the deal announced Tuesday, BP said it would use wind energy from Orsted's North Sea wind farm to produce hydrogen for its Lingen refinery in northwest Germany. The two companies intend to build a 50-megawatt electrolyzer, powered by wind, to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases without generating carbon emissions.

Advocates say that as well as reducing emissions, green hydrogen could help address the storage issues facing renewable energy, which is typically generated when the wind blows or the sun shines, regardless of whether there is demand for the power. By using excess renewable power to produce hydrogen, the energy could be stored for later use.

Cost remains a challenge. Producing hydrogen using renewable energy is more expensive than that using fossil fuels, and analysts say government support will be integral to its adoption. While the costs of electrolyzers and renewable electricity have been coming down, green hydrogen still doesn't compete with natural-gas based hydrogen.

To support the project in Germany, BP and Orsted have applied for funding from a European Union innovation fund that focuses on projects aimed at reducing emissions.

The companies said they plan to make a final investment decision in early 2022 and anticipate the project could be operational by 2024. BP didn't disclose the financial details of the project." [1]

Buses and boats can fill up with hydrogen much faster than recharging their batteries. For airplanes, those batteries are too heavy to begin with. In Lithuania, that would be more promising than a stupid fintech, the wind is strong enough in Lithuania, but it is nothing to do here... Stupid people do fintech, normal people do work.


1. BP to Use Wind to Make Hydrogen
McFarlane, Sarah. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]11 Nov 2020: B.11.