Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), ENEOS, and Mitsui have formed a joint study agreement to begin evaluating the development of a clean hydrogen supply chain between UAE and Japan.
The project will evolve in two phases, with the first phase using by-product hydrogen from ADNOC’s system in Ruwais Industrial Area in Abu Dhabi. The second phase envisages greenfield blue hydrogen production from natural gas.
The hydrogen will be transformed into methylcyclohexane (MCH), an efficient form of hydrogen transport vector to export to Japan.
The three companies will conduct technical and engineering verification of a hydrogen production facility with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes per year. They will also conduct a feasibility study on the potential to expand this facility to commercial production of 200,000 tonnes per year.
In addition, ADNOC is exploring CCUS options with an aim to establish a blue hydrogen supply business using existing facilities such as refineries and petrochemical plants. As part of these initiatives, ADNOC will be responsible for the hydrogen production component of this joint feasibility study.
ENEOS says it is working to build a CO2-free hydrogen supply chain. Therefore, it will lead the verification of MCH production and shipping facilities in the UAE as a part of “Green Innovation Fund Project (Large-scale demonstration of an MCH supply chain)” which was adopted by the NEDO.
Mitsui has been developing and participating in LNG projects in the UAE with ADNOC since the 1970s. Since 2017, through participation in the AHEAD, the company has engaged in R&D for the large-scale transportation and storage of hydrogen using MCH. In contributing to this project, Mitsui will draw on the knowledge and experience gained through these LNG and hydrogen-related operations.
In conclusion, the three companies want to establish a stable and economically viable supply chain of clean hydrogen to achieve carbon neutrality.