Development work and innovation are key in the establishment of a hydrogen economy
Right now the production, storage and use of energy is being rearranged, and the hydrogen economy sector is taking shape. The ongoing transformation requires a broad understanding of industrial processes and agile application of technologies. Elomatic has more than 50 years of experience in various industrial sectors and a proven track record also in the development of hydrogen projects. Knowledge of the entire value chain of the hydrogen economy, strong technological expertise, innovation ability and solution-orientation are Elomatic’s strengths as a promoter of the hydrogen economy and P2X solutions.
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions and stopping climate change drive the transition towards an energy transformation, where solutions for reducing emissions in industry and logistics are sought through a hydrogen economy. P2X (Power-to-X) describes processes in which electricity is converted into other forms of energy or products. New technologies can utilize variable renewable energy production, allowing a sufficient amount of affordable renewable electricity to be converted into electricity-intensive products.
“Renewable electricity production has grown significantly, and as part of the electrification of the energy sector, there is a necessity to increase methods for converting electrical energy into other storable forms that can be utilized in various ways. Elomatic’s goal is to be a significant international player in the hydrogen economy projects’ P2X processes,” says Karoliina Joensuu, Executive Vice President, Industry business unit at Elomatic.
Elomatic as a partner in a green ammonia production project
Understanding new technologies requires the management of large entities and extensive knowledge of industrial processes. Elomatic has been involved in creating new sustainable business together with its partners, e.g. by founding Green North Energy, a green energy project development company, in 2021, which now develops three green ammonia production plants in Finland with the support of investment company Meridiam.
The design of the first plant began in 2021 with the design of the concept, and the basic design phase is currently underway. Currently, Elomatic is a partner of Green North Energy to support the successful implementation of the different phases of the project.
“We want to learn and develop the hydrogen economy and P2X solutions. Our way of working is to make visible all the interfaces of the project. In the first years of the Green North Energy project, we operated extensively; we conceptualized, contacted actors, negotiated, researched and investigated. This will create new and significant openings in the field of the hydrogen economy,” describes Kari Räsänen, the head of Elomatic’s P2X expertise area.
Green North Energy’s story began with the opportunity to utilize the decommissioned area of the Naantali refinery area in a new way. Based on the brainstorming of Elomatic’s experts, a project development company was created, in which ammonia refined from green hydrogen will play a significant role as a marine transport fuel of the future and as a raw material for the chemical industry, such as fertilizer.
Elomatic’s strong technology expertise and decades of plant design experience as well as innovation capability make us an important partner for our customers and a significant player and developer for the entire industry.
Karoliina Joensuu, Executive Vice President, Industry business unit
Hydrogen economy value chains are extensive
The value chain of the hydrogen economy consists of the production, storage and distribution of green hydrogen, as well as the use of hydrogen and its derivatives in various sectors, such as transport, industry and energy production. A new industry that will revolutionize the entire energy sector and industry is in its early stages, and the value chain is looking for its shape.
Promoting the hydrogen economy requires an understanding of the entire value chain. Elomatic is involved in every stage of the hydrogen economy, which creates good conditions to help customers in P2X projects.
“It is excellent that our industrial expertise is so strong in maritime industry processes, for example. We have been involved in creating solutions for the customer’s need to develop environmentally friendly and emission-free e-fuels,” says Räsänen.
For example, the concepts created for the Japanese company NYK-Line for the use of ammonia as a fuel for different types of vessels highlight Elomatic’s long experience in plant design and in-depth understanding of customer needs.
Over 50 years of experience as a cornerstone
An understanding of the customer’s processes, business prerequisites and plant design is the cornerstone of Elomatic’s expertise. Elomatic can be described as a technology-independent interface operator. With more than 50 years of experience, especially in the process and energy industries, the machinery and equipment manufacturing industry, and the marine and offshore energy industries, it creates a unique competence base for the implementation of customer projects.
“With our expertise, we want to represent the changes in the energy economy that take us in a sustainable direction. In a good sense, we are a traditional engineering company with very strong expertise in different technologies,” says Joensuu.
Understanding the customer’s interfaces is more than just technical design. From the customer’s point of view, it is also essential how the chosen technology solutions can affect the price of the end product. Without wide-ranging expertise, the goals set for the hydrogen economy will not be achieved.
Elomatic’s goal is to support the customer in the completion of the project, to be technology-independent and to help the customer choose the right suitable technology. The task is to find a technical form of implementation that will enable the project to be financially successful.
Hydrogen economy projects are large investments, and they do not progress quickly. The playing field is wide and there are many operators. There are also many expectations associated with the hydrogen economy as a whole. Our plant expertise becomes a special strength, as we think about technology-based which concept is best suited to the customer’s needs.
Kari Räsänen, Vice President, Power-to-X
Safety is the number one priority in hydrogen projects
The development of the hydrogen economy requires that safety is taken into account at every stage of the project. In the development of the industry, it is important to ensure that all hydrogen-related processes, such as production, transport, storage and use, are carried out safely.
Elomatic has extensive expertise in taking safety into account in its customer projects. For example, an electric motor simulation carried out for ABB investigated an accident situation in which hydrogen gas enters the engine. The results were used to optimize the dimensions of the engine to meet safety standards.
“We are certainly one of the most experienced operators in the Nordic countries when it comes to ensuring the safety of industrial processes. Safety is also a key factor in hydrogen economy projects, as hydrogen is highly flammable and its handling requires special attention and precision,” Räsänen points out.
The ability to innovate lays the foundation for the hydrogen economy
Elomatic’s values include a desire to develop. Experts are given the opportunity to learn and innovate. A new idea can arise from a customer need or from the industry’s sustainability goals.
An example of innovative actions in the sector to achieve climate goals is the utilization of carbon dioxide. In Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU), the production of hydrogen plays an important role, as hydrogen is typically the second main raw material when carbon dioxide is used as a raw material for further processing.
In a CCU project implemented for Vantaa Energy, Elomatic investigated the capture of carbon dioxide from the flue gases of a waste incineration plant for use as a raw material in the production of formic acid.
Customer projects show that development work and innovation together with the customer contribute to the establishment of a hydrogen economy. Equally important is participation in research and development projects, in which Elomatic’s experts are actively involved, for example, through VTT and Aalto University.
Elomatic’s ambition is to be at the forefront of developing new technologies and at the same time promote Finnish engineering expertise globally. Expertise in every area of the value chain provides a position where the hydrogen economy can be built in the fields of renewable energy production, hydrogen and ammonia production, as well as applications utilizing renewable energy.
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Kari Räsänen
Vice President, Power-to-X & Hydrogen Business
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