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Power-to-X (P2X)


Decarbonizing American industries with green hydrogen and e-fuels

 

The United States has officially entered the clean hydrogen market. This growing industry is key to decarbonizing some of America’s heaviest industries, through the use of either green hydrogen or its derivative e-fuels (e.g., e-ammonia, e-methanol).

As a leading clean energy company, Ørsted is using our extensive portfolio of wind and solar assets to power P2X facilities. We’re developing a green hydrogen and e-fuels project in the U.S., and supporting the development of one of America’s first clean hydrogen hubs.

What is Power-to-X?


Power-to-X (P2X) is the umbrella term for turning electricity into something else – in this case, green hydrogen. Green hydrogen is made using clean energy, such as wind and solar, to power electrolysis, a process which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules, producing hydrogen without carbon emissions. Green hydrogen can be further processed into e-fuels, creating net-zero carbon molecules which can help decarbonize hard-to-electrify sectors, such as transportation, chemicals, and steelmaking.
Blue pictogram of a ship on the water, representing Ørsted's P2X projects' ability to decarbonize heavy transportation.

Transportation

Both e-methanol and e-ammonia can be used to decarbonize the shipping industry. E-kerosene derived from green hydrogen can be used as jet fuel for decarbonizing air travel, without requiring changes to engine technology, storage, or infrastructure.
Blue pictogram of a round chemical test tube, representing Ørsted's P2X projects' ability to decarbonize petrochemicals.

Chemicals

Green hydrogen presents several opportunities for eliminating emissions from chemical production. These include replacing hydrogen derived from fossil fuels used in refining, or as a feedstock for ammonia, methanol, and other chemical production processes.
Blue pictogram of a crane lifting an iron block, representing Ørsted's P2X projects' ability to decarbonize steelmaking.

Steelmaking

Hydrogen offers an immediate solution for removing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from steel production. Green hydrogen can be blended directly into the Direct Reduction Iron-Electric Arc Furnace (DRI-EAF) process with minimal changes to equipment.
A contatinership being powered with clean fuel from Ørsted's Star e-Methanol facility, a P2X facility on the Gulf Coast.

Star e-Methanol

Ørsted is developing a P2X facility on the Gulf Coast, which will use ~1.2 GW of clean energy to produce up to 300,000 metric tons of e-methanol annually. This e-methanol will provide carbon-neutral marine fuel to the world’s largest shipping companies.

Building an American hydrogen hub

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Ørsted and six other industry partners to build the HyVelocity Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub. This hub will leverage existing assets in Texas and Louisiana to deliver clean hydrogen to the region.
Two stacked copies of Ørsted's 'The Power of American Green Hydrogen' white paper, showing a Power-to-X (P2X) facility.

The Power
of American
Green Hydrogen

Read our white paper
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
  • How is green hydrogen produced?
    Green hydrogen, also called renewable hydrogen, is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules using renewable electricity. The resulting hydrogen is collected and used, while the oxygen is either used, or released as a byproduct. The technology behind this splitting process, called electrolysis, is well-established, having been commercially viable and used worldwide for decades.
  • What is the benefit of using green hydrogen?
    Unlike conventional hydrogen, green hydrogen is produced without emitting any carbon emissions. This means that green hydrogen can be used to lower or eliminate the emissions footprint of current hydrogen users. It can also be adopted by hard-to-electrify sectors like shipping, aerospace, and chemicals, replacing fossil fuels.
  • Is green hydrogen safe?
    When handled correctly, renewable hydrogen is safe, being a non-toxic gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Under certain conditions, hydrogen can be explosive; however, longstanding international standards exist for designing and monitoring hydrogen facilities. Many sectors have used hydrogen in their industrial processes for decades, making it a common product used in familiar applications. 10 million metric tons of hydrogen are produced in the U.S. today.
  • What are e-fuels?
    E-fuels are compounds made by combining green hydrogen with other substances to create low- or zero-carbon fuels. Green hydrogen combined with biogenic carbon can produce e-methanol or e-kerosene, while green hydrogen combined with nitrogen produces e-ammonia.
  • How do hydrogen projects benefit communities?
    Like other renewable energy solutions, green hydrogen will contribute to the development of America’s clean energy industry. This means the creation of short- and long-term jobs, a larger domestic clean energy supply chain, and investment in communities around clean hydrogen hubs. For locals, it also means a substantial reduction in pollution, as green hydrogen replaces fossil fuel use in industrial facilities.

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