Norwegian duo Statkraft and Aker Horizons unveiled plans to cooperate over potential green hydrogen and ammonia production in Brazil and India.
Norwegian state-owned power utility Statkraft and Aker Horizons, the energy transition arm of industrial conglomerate Aker, said they will look at opportunities in areas such as steel sector decarbonisation and ammonia export in the two nations, both of which have staked claims to become global players in the emerging hydrogen economy.
In Brazil a first co-operation will see Statkraft and Aker Horizons’ Aker Clean Hydrogen unit advance power-to-x projects in the state of Bahia in conjunction with Sowitec, the global wind and solar developer that is 25% owned by Vestas.
The trio’s first planned project is a “large-scale hybrid project, which combines renewable power generation, and hydrogen and ammonia production for the local fertiliser industry”, said a statement that referenced Brazilian government plans to reduce its current 80% reliance on imported fertilisers. The first Bahia project is due to be in service by 2027.
In India, Statkraft and Aker said they will look to link green power generation with hydrogen for steel decarbonisation.
India in February unveiled the first part of a green hydrogen strategy that aims to produce five million tonnes annually by 2030 and slash the cost of the energy transition fuel.
“With considerable renewable energy production and market activities in India and Brazil, Statkraft is well positioned to capture green hydrogen opportunities in these two huge and important energy markets,” said Jürgen Tzschoppe, executive vice president, international power for Statkraft.
Oslo-listed Aker Clean Hydrogen is currently the subject of a merger plan that will see it taken private and operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aker Horizons.
