ABB and Charbone Hydrogen have signed an agreement to collaborate on the development of new green hydrogen production facilities in Canada and the United States.
The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to develop up to 15 modular and scalable green hydrogen production facilities across North America over the next five years.
The collaboration sets ABB as the preferred supplier of modular and standard electrical substations for the interconnection between production facilities and local utilities.
ABB will support Charbone in standardising basic engineering for systems and components across its project portfolio, to increase energy efficiency and reliability.
Future scope may also see ABB operate as the main automation, electrification and telecom contractor depending on project requirements.
Among the sites covered by the collaboration is Charbone’s flagship Sorel-Tracy facility near Montreal in Québec, Canada (site rendering pictured).
The facility is expected to be connected to the Hydro-Quebec grid by the end of the second quarter of 2025, using hydro electricity to power green hydrogen electrolysers.
The plant will create a blueprint for the design and engineering of modular and scalable equipment for other sites being developed by Charbone.
The next project to get underway will be in the greater Detroit area in the US, which is the manufacturing base for major automotive companies.
“This strategic collaboration with ABB is a strong and significant signal about our proposition for the North American green hydrogen market,” said Charbone’s chief operating officer Daniel Charette.
“With the Sorel-Tracy project moving quickly to on-site activities, and the capabilities of plug and play modular approach to get production starting in a minimal number of weeks, Charbone will support the decarbonisation of industry.”
ABB Energy Industries president Per Erik Holsten said: “Green hydrogen has an important role to play in the transition towards a low carbon energy future.
“We are proud to collaborate with Charbone on its strategy to develop and grow green hydrogen production facilities across North America,” he added.
In addition to the MoU, Charbone will acquire ABB’s Extended Operator Workplace (EOW) system for all the planned facilities and a main Operator Workplace at Charbone’s headquarters to monitor all the facilities.
The EOWs – the first to be installed in green hydrogen production plants in North America – will enhance production and reduce downtime via 24/7 monitoring from local and remote-control centres.