H2Tech - Q1 2021 - 17

EXECUTIVE VIEWPOINT
H2T. More broadly, what part do
you expect blue H2 to play in the
global energy transition?

DB. Blue H2 is a viable bridge solution because the CO2 is captured, and it
is much cheaper than green H2 today. As
we move away from fossil fuels to help
the environment, we can use blue H2 in
different industries as a fuel and in the
transportation sector. H2 and electric
cars are the future of transportation,
particularly as auto manufacturers start
to move away from fossil fuels.
For example, California announced
that it will not allow fossil fuel cars on
California roads after 2035, and the state
is already building H2 refueling stations
and electric vehicle charging stations.
This could be followed in all the states
very quickly. First, however, we have to
bring down the H2 fuel cost, which is
around $15/kg-$16/kg at present. That
cost can be reduced with the use of blue
H2. If the price of H2 at the refueling station can be brought down to $5/kg, then
many people will be ready to buy H2 cars
when they know that their weekly H2
fuel bill will only be around $20-$25.
H2T. Can you share any details
on the projects your company is
working on in this area, and
how you anticipate these projects
will help advance clean energy
technology and use?

DB. New Fortress Energy's Zero Division was established to help the company meet the ambitious target of our
CEO, Wes Edens, of becoming a zeroemissions company within 10 yr. The
division is committed to making zeroemissions H2 at an affordable price. We
are investing in H2 technology startup
companies, such as H2Pro, that can lower the cost of producing H2.
For example, H2Pro's Electrochemical-Thermally Activated Chemical (ETAC) technology uses renewable energy to split water into H2 and O2 in two
phases, using around 30% less renewable
electricity than other leading electrolysis
technologies. H2Pro is designing lowercost, modular, scalable systems that use
less electricity, do not require membranes or precious metals and can operate at high pressure. We are working to
build pilot plants with H2Pro and other
companies over the next few years. If all
goes as planned, we will scale up com-

If the CO2 tax credit is
increased to $70/t-$80/t
and a sequestration
permit is provided in
6 months, then it can
change the scenario for
carbon capture in the U.S.
mercial projects pretty soon after that.
New Fortress Energy is also working
with GE and Black & Veatch to introduce
H2 into natural gas turbines at the 485MW Long Ridge Energy Terminal power
plant (FIG. 1) in Hannibal, Ohio. The
project is under construction and will
begin producing CO2-free power by the
end of 2021. It will be the first purposebuilt H2-burning power plant in North
America. It will also be the world's first to
blend H2 in a GE H-class gas turbine. The
Long Ridge plant's combustion turbine

can initially burn from 15 vol%-20 vol%
H2 in the gas stream. New Fortress Energy's Zero Division will continue to work
with Long Ridge and GE as they transition the plant to burn 100 vol% green H2
over the next 10 yr.
H2T. With regard to green H2,
how do you see it being a success
in the future? How will the projects
being developed today pave the way
for wider-scale use of green H2,
and in which sectors?

DB. Many projects are under development, and some are under construction for green H2. Australia and Europe
are leading the way in green H2 , with a
number of announcements of interesting and diverse projects. Several new
technologies promise to be much lower
in cost than existing ones. As these technologies are developed, we will see green
H2 at an increasingly affordable price. At
this time, green H2 will start to capture
more market share than gray and blue
H2; however, we need to keep investing
in renewables and more pilot projects to
achieve the kind of scale that ultimately
drives down costs.

FIG. 1. The Long Ridge power plant in Ohio will initially burn 15 vol%-20 vol% H2 in its
natural gas turbines from late 2021, transitioning to 100 vol% green H2 over the next decade.
Photo courtesy of New Fortress Energy.
H2Tech | Q1 2021 17

H2Tech - Q1 2021

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