Aramco and Topsoe Partner to Develop Low-Carbon Hydrogen at Shaybah Plant

In a major step towards advancing low-carbon hydrogen production, Aramco and Topsoe have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to implement Topsoe's innovative eREACT technology at Aramco’s Shaybah Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) recovery plant in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration marks a significant expansion of their partnership, which initially began in October 2023, to explore scalable, efficient, and carbon-reducing hydrogen production solutions.

The agreement centers on a 3MW unit at the Shaybah facility, which is expected to produce up to 6 tons of low-carbon hydrogen daily once operational. The project aims to showcase the potential of eREACT technology in reducing carbon emissions and supporting the global transition to cleaner energy solutions.

A Strategic Collaboration

The JDA underscores the strategic alignment between Aramco, a leading global energy and chemicals company, and Topsoe, a pioneer in carbon emission reduction technologies. Aramco’s involvement brings its extensive resources and expertise to the table, including its proprietary palladium-alloy membrane technology for CO2 capture. This innovative integration ensures the simultaneous production of low-carbon hydrogen while minimizing CO2 emissions, furthering the companies’ shared vision of commercializing carbon-reducing technologies.

Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting the potential of eREACT technology in advancing low-carbon hydrogen production. “With this joint development agreement, we are demonstrating the significant commercial viability of our eREACT technology,” she said. “This technology holds significant potential as part of the low-carbon hydrogen economy, and we are excited to deliver on the project in due course.”

Ali A Meshari, Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight & Coordination at Aramco, emphasized the complementary strengths of the collaboration. “By leveraging Aramco’s oil and gas infrastructure and abundantly available renewable resources in the Kingdom, we plan to enable the commercial deployment of this novel technology,” Meshari stated. “This collaboration will bring together the expertise of our two companies to develop a cutting-edge, lower-carbon hydrogen production technology.”

eREACT is a groundbreaking technology designed to produce low-carbon hydrogen and fuels by electrifying the traditional reforming process. At its core, the technology replaces fossil fuel-based heating with electrified heating, offering a more energy-efficient way to produce hydrogen while reducing gas volumes needed for production by up to 30%. The eREACT technology can integrate renewable electricity with natural gas, significantly cutting down flue gas emissions and positioning the technology as a key player in the global transition to a low-carbon economy.

The technology’s impact is further amplified when combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS), enhancing its carbon-reduction potential. The eREACT technology aligns with global efforts to decarbonize industries and reduce the environmental impact of hydrogen and fuel production.