Woodside Energy takes aim at US market with 290-MW hydrogen project

Woodside Energy Ltd has secured land to develop a modular hydrogen facility in the US with an initial capacity of 290 MW, which will produce fuel for the local trucking sector.

Woodside said on Tuesday that it has signed a lease and option agreement to purchase 94 acres (38 hectares) of vacant land in Ardmore, Oklahoma to develop the proposed H2OK project, subject to approvals. It will produce 90 tonnes per day (tpd) of liquid hydrogen, using power from Oklahoma’s existing network, a large portion of which is derived from wind. Remaining emissions will be offset through renewable energy certificates to ensure this is a net-zero project.

The facility's output can double under plans to expand it up to 550 MW.

The Australian firm has finalised preliminary design and is evaluating tenders to kick off front-end engineering design by end-2021. A final investment decision is targeted for the second half of 2022, with the site set to begin production in 2025.

Woodside has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyzon Motors, a New York-based supplier of green hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial and heavy transport vehicles. The parties plan to explore supply and infrastructure solutions as well as ways to stimulate hydrogen demand.

"With H2OK we will be bringing Woodside’s extensive liquefaction experience from liquid natural gas (LNG) to deliver large-scale hydrogen production. H2OK would be located in a highly prospective part of the US market, close to national highways and the supply chain infrastructure of major companies that have signalled their interest in securing reliable, affordable and lower carbon energy," Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said.

The Australian company is eyeing similar land acquisitions in the US.

This is Woodside's third hydrogen project, joining the combined hydrogen and ammonia production facilities H2Perth and H2TAS under development in Western Australia and Tasmania.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!