Fossil-free hydrogen production with many benefits
The idea is to produce hydrogen and methanol that can contribute to fossil-free industries and supply-chains in Norrbotten.
Hydrogen contributes greatly to the fight against climate change. It can replace fossil fuels both in industrial as an input and in transportation, and is an important energy carrier in, for example, the industrial processes that will give Sweden and the world fossil-free iron and fossil-free steel.
Methanol can be used both as a fuel, mainly for shipping, and as a raw material for the chemical industry.
Bothnia LinkH2 will supply the industry with hydrogen produced using an electrolyser that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. With infrastructure in Luleå Harbour, hydrogen can also be used as fuel for fossil-free transport within the harbor and also distributed to local industry.
The hydrogen can also be mixed with biogenic carbon dioxide and with the help of a catalyst react to produce methanol. With the help of intermediate storage and other infrastructure in Luleå Harbour, the methanol can be used as fuel in marine applications for fossil-free transport to other ports.
Depending on how the hydrogen from the Bothnia LinkH2 is used, carbon dioxide emissions are expected to decrease by between 80,000–150,000 metric tons per year. By utilizing the residual heat from hydrogen production, Luleå’s district heating network would be able to warm up a growing city in a
sustainable way. Thanks to advanced control mechanisms, the facility can also contribute with flexibility and stability to an ever-expanding electrical system.
Cooperation that creates a new market
In Bothnia LinkH2, Uniper's and Luleå Port's competences come together to contribute to the establishment of a fossil-free logistics solution for the steel industry and a Swedish hydrogen market, expected to be in operation by 2028.