The agreement implies that a pilot plant run on wind power will be built in 2002. Statkraft, Sydkraft and ABB have signed a letter of intent to build a pilot plant for the production and distribution of hydrogen. The intention of the three companies is to develop new technology and gain experience from a hydrogen plant fuelled by wind power. In addition, the parties will investigate the synergy effects to be had and possible by-products for industry and in private homes. The plant is to be built in the course of next year. The location of the plant has not yet been clarified.
"It is only a matter of time before hydrogen becomes a competitive alternative to fossil fuels and batteries as an energy carrier", says Jon Brandsar, Statkraft's Director of Technology. He describes the co-operation by three of the largest companies in the Nordic area as unique. "Collaboration by Statkraft, Sydkraft and ABB will be a centre of force in the development of Nordic energy technology. The fact that three big players join together in developing environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels will be a great importance to society in general, in addition to producing local and global environmental gains", says Brandsar.
The letter of intent also provides new areas of contact between technical circles and users of the new systems that will be developed. "Future use of fuel cells is an important element in the effort to achieve more environmentally friendly energy supplies and renewable energy sources have long been an important part of ABB's research and development. We hope that our experience in technology development as a system supplier, together the competence our partners have in applying energy will ensure good results in the future, says Olaf Melhus, Executive Vice President of ABB.
Statkraft is Norway's largest energy supplier with its main focus on large-scale production. Sydkraft is one of Sweden's largest energy companies that, in addition to producing and transmitting electric power, also supplies electricity to end-users. ABB, which has its origins in Sweden, has gradually become one of the largest system suppliers in the world.
The plant that is being planned will not emit pollution of any type. Run on hydropower or wind power, a hydrogen plant has no emissions at all. The goal of the project is to acquire know-how and experience that can make hydrogen a commercially interesting energy carrier, in addition to the inherent environmental benefits.
"This is a long-term project. Climatic problems mean that new solutions are becoming imperative and we will see a gradual replacement of energy carriers. In time we will face a demand that energy production is to be pollution-free. Hydrogen produced at a wind or hydropower driven plant satisfies this demand and through this co-operation the three partners want to be a driving force in the development of this type of technology", says Brandsar.