Aage Bjørn Andersen, Jon Eriksen, Terje Paulsen, and Frank Sagvik, representing NAPOP, Kunnskapsbyen, and Akershus Energi respectively, believe hydrogen will be an important energy carrier if Norway is to become a zero-emission society.
Driv Hydrogen's new preparation facility for hydrogen tanks in Kløfta is the only one of its kind that can "wash out" nitrogen – without climate emissions.
The company is established as a joint venture between fuel supplier Driv Energi and NAPOP, a Lillestrøm-based hydrogen technology company. NAPOP develops solutions for emission-free production of electricity and heat, based on hydrogen.
The facility, which was formally opened on Thursday, May 21st, is an advanced washing machine for hydrogen tanks and is the only one of its kind in Norway. Driv Hydrogen is the only "flushing" provider in Europe that uses a completely emission-free technology. [SEG 10] [SEG 11] Multi-purpose solution
The start of production proves that this is a technology that works in practice, the owners point out. Here, they can meet several industry needs:
Local production of biohydrogen
Preparation, flushing, and servicing of hydrogen tanks
- Testing and demonstration of hydrogen solutions
- Infrastructure for future hydrogen projects
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- – The facility represents another step forward for hydrogen as the energy solution of the future, says NAPOP's Operations Director Aage Bjørn Andersen. [SEG 19]
To drive the process, pure hydrogen is needed. This is produced on-site by reforming biomethanol. The local production facility has a capacity of 250 kg of hydrogen per day, equivalent to 91 tons of hydrogen per year when operating at full capacity.
The Kløfta facility is oversized for current needs. This 'overproduction' therefore enables NAPOP to deliver sustainable hydrogen and offer other related services to the hydrogen industry.
Nordic Project Collaboration
When new hydrogen tanks are delivered from manufacturers, they are filled with nitrogen and must therefore be sent for 'flushing'. Before they can be used for hydrogen storage, the tanks must undergo a program of hydrogen purges, which remove all traces of nitrogen.
The emission-free technology used has been developed in collaboration with the experts in the EU-funded project Cleancon – Clean Construction Machinery.
– We have moved beyond the conceptual stage here and developed a facility that confirms the technology works in practice, says project manager Jon Eriksen of Kunnskapsbyen, who is the Norwegian project owner for Cleancon.
