Woodside Energy has awarded a major contract to Air Liquide Engineering and Construction (Air Liquide) for the liquefaction equipment at its proposed H2OK hydrogen project in Ardmore, Oklahoma, according to a news release.
In accordance with the contract, Air Liquide will provide the engineering and fabrication of two 30 tonne per day liquefaction units which will liquefy hydrogen produced through electrolysis in preparation for storage, loading and transportation to customers.
Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said the contract award was a significant milestone for H2OK, for which frontend engineering design activities are targeted to be completed this year. “We are aiming to develop our New Energy business in the United States. The signing of the contract for liquefaction equipment is another important step forward in advancing H2OK, which would be our first producing hydrogen facility globally.
“Our customers are increasingly seeking out low-cost, lower-carbon sources of energy, such as hydrogen and ammonia. H2OK would produce hydrogen for use as a fuel for commercial and heavy transport, supporting customers’ chosen decarbonization pathways,” she said.
Air Liquide has been developing unique expertise in the entire hydrogen chain (production, storage, and distribution) for more than 60 years and brings to the project its extensive experience in advancing hydrogen ecosystems and its leading liquefaction technologies that are reliable, efficient, and specific to the needs of the project.
The awarding of the liquefaction equipment contract follows Woodside’s selection of Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser AS, a subsidiary of Nel ASA, to design and develop alkaline electrolyser equipment for H2OK.
The proposed H2OK project site in Ardmore is strategically located close to national highways and the supply chain infrastructure of major transport companies, as well as being in an area well suited for hydrogen production with good availability of water and renewable energy. Woodside will utilize these resources to produce liquid hydrogen for hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial and heavy transport vehicles. Woodside is targeting a final investment decision for H2OK in 2023, subject to all necessary approvals and appropriate commercial arrangements being finalized.
In addition to H2OK, Woodside is working on proposed hydrogen projects in Australia, H2Perth and H2TAS, and was recently named the preferred partner to move forward to the development stage of the proposed Southern Green Hydrogen project in New Zealand.
