Exclusive | Climate change: Saudi Aramco and Chinese partner soon to fire up hydrogen-conversion pilot plant, technology head says
- Aramco and Suzhou-based Since Gas’s pilot plant aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a technology for converting ammonia to hydrogen
- The Saudi oil producer plans to spend nearly US$500 million a year on sustainability-related research and development, says its technology and innovation head
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia-based Aramco, the world’s largest oil exporter and third most valuable company, plans to spend nearly US$500 million on sustainability related research and development a year, said Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, executive vice-president of technology and innovation.
That includes hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, which are especially needed in industries such as steel, cement, aviation and shipping, which lack renewable energy alternatives that are affordable and reliable.
Aramco is collaborating with Suzhou, Jiangsu province-based Since Gas on the plant, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a technology for converting ammonia to hydrogen. The facility in Jiangmen, Guangdong province will have the capacity to produce 200 kilograms of hydrogen daily, and is expected to be completed this month.