Danish company Topsoe and Aramco, a global integrated energy and chemicals company, have announced a new collaboration to demonstrate the eREACT™ technology for the production of low-carbon (blue) hydrogen. Topsoe’s eREACT™ is a technology platform for the production of low-carbon hydrogen and has the potential to reduce carbon emissions, with the hydrogen produced holding a carbon intensity of near zero.

As part of the agreement, Aramco and Topsoe will build a demonstration plant at the Shaybah Natural Gas Liquids recovery plant in Saudi Arabia. In the project, renewable electricity will be used for electrified steam reforming of natural gas to produce low-carbon hydrogen, with the resulting CO2 being sequestered.

Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, said: “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Aramco through which we demonstrate an innovative solution for producing low-carbon hydrogen. The cornerstone of this collaboration is Topsoe’s eREACT™, which is a groundbreaking technology platform producing low-carbon fuels and chemicals while eliminating flue gas emissions. This marks a crucial step in the transition to a net-zero future, and we couldn’t be more excited to be at the forefront of this transformative change. We look forward to working with Aramco on this exciting project.”

eREACT™ is described as a novel technology for the production of low-carbon hydrogen and fuels. Central to the technology is an innovative electrified reactor design, which is able to convert a variety of feedstocks into low-carbon hydrogen or other chemicals and fuels. The technology opens up new production routes combining renewable electricity and natural gas while eliminating flue gas emissions. Some of the technology benefits are described as:

• Simpler plant design – no flue gas section
• Eliminates all flue-gas from the hydrogen production process
• Operated at low carbon intensity (0-0.2 kg CO2/kg H2)
• Easier operation – fuel mix and burner control are replaced with power control
• Minimises plant footprint with a solution 100x smaller than a traditional SMR furnace
• Improves energy efficiency
• Utilises 4-5 times less electricity than a comparable electrolysis operation