The strategic agreement will open access to global market opportunities for ZEG’s differentiated technology for clean hydrogen production.
Oslo, August 29th, 2023 - ZEG Power (ZEG) has signed a strategic deployment agreement (SDA) with its lead investor SLB to scale up and market its ground-breaking ZEG ICCTM technology for clean hydrogen production from hydrocarbon gas.
ZEG develops clean hydrogen production technology with integrated carbon capture (ZEG ICCTM technology) for various end-user applications, including industry and mobility sectors. The technology is based on sorbent enhanced reforming and was originally developed at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), a highly recognized research institute in Norway. The first commercial ZEG plant is currently being installed and put into operation at CCB Energy Park at Kollsnes, adjacent to the planned Northern Lights CO2 storage infrastructure. ZEG’s owners include SLB, IFE Invest, Stratel, AP Ventures, Nysnø Klimainvesteringer, SPARX Mirai, StartupLab Founders Fund, Nordea Asset Management and Danske Invest.
“To have a technology leader of such caliber as SLB, with its worldwide footprint and innovation expertise that will help scale clean energy solutions, brings vast opportunities for ZEG”, says Arild Selvig, CEO of ZEG. “We expect this agreement to provide a significant catalyst for ZEG’s expansion into global markets. We look forward to continuing to develop business opportunities with SLB as a strategic partner.”
This strategic investment round will expand the industrialization capacity and open access to global market opportunities for ZEG differentiated technology.
Oslo, September 23, 2022 - ZEG Power (ZEG) raises NOK 200m in a series B funding round to scale up its zero-emission hydrogen production technology. The round was led by Schlumberger’s New Energy business, and complemented by existing owners, private investors, and ZEG employees. The capital raise is a significant validation of the ground-breaking ZEG ICCTM technology for clean hydrogen production from hydrocarbon gas and a solid step towards global expansion and scale.
ZEG develops clean hydrogen production technology with integrated carbon capture (ZEG ICCTM technology) for various end-user applications, including industry and mobility sectors. The technology is based on sorbent enhanced reforming and was originally developed at the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), a highly recognized research institute in Norway. The first commercial ZEG plant will be installed year-end 2022 and put into operation in 2023 at CCB Energy Park at Kollsnes, adjacent to the planned Northern Lights CO2 storage infrastructure. The lead investor in the round, Schlumberger, joins existing key investors including IFE Invest, Stratel, AP Ventures, Nysnø Klimainvesteringer, SPARX Mirai, StartupLab Founders Fund, Nordea Asset Management and Danske Invest.
“To have a technology leader of such caliber as Schlumberger, with a worldwide footprint and network, brings vast opportunities for ZEG”, says Arild Selvig, CEO of ZEG. “We expect this new investment to provide a significant catalyst for ZEG’s expansion into global markets. We look forward to continuing to develop business opportunities with Schlumberger as a strategic partner.”
ZEG offers climate friendly solutions that utilize Norway's existing natural advantages and resources. Our unique and patented ZEG ICC™ technology, which enables the production and use of clean hydrogen from natural gas, is ready for the global market. As part of our global rollout, we are looking for great minds with a passion for deep tech.
ZEG Power (ZEG) and Transitus Energy (Transitus) are entering into a collaboration, having signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the purpose of exploring joint opportunities related to the production of clean hydrogen and power in the UK, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Norway.
“We are excited to collaborate with Transitus, working together in empowering the production of clean, reliable energy. Current energy markets highlight the importance of reliable access to energy, while the climate crisis simultaneously requires this to originate from low carbon solutions. A partnership between ZEG and Transitus would seek to deliver on both these important market drivers in the UK and beyond”, says Arild Selvig, CEO of ZEG.
“Blue hydrogen will accelerate the transition towards decarbonization of the energy sector. It enables clean utilization of natural gas resources and therefore it is a fast-track to decarbonization while ensuring reliable and affordable access to energy during these demanding times”, says Bjørn Inge Tønnessen, Executive Chair of Transitus.
The ZEG ICC Technology, which enables the production and use of clean hydrogen from natural gas, is ready for the global market following the delivery of the first commercial ZEG production plant at CCB Energy Park on the west-coast of Norway in 2022.
Significant market opportunity for blue hydrogen in the UK
The UK and Europe have every opportunity to build a low-carbon energy supply and be on the forefront of decarbonisation. By decarbonising now, using blue hydrogen at a 20% blend in the natural gas network, it has been estimated that in the UK alone 30 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide emissions can be averted, equivalent to 1.25 million cars worth of emissions being eliminated.
“The UK is an emerging and highly interesting market for us, and this collaboration is a step in the right direction. We strongly believe in the impact of our technology for producing clean hydrogen from gas with integrated carbon capture (ZEG ICC Technology), and we hope we can significantly contribute along with Transitus to bring forward the UK hydrogen economy”, says Kathrine K Ryengen, CCO of ZEG.
“Blue hydrogen is a rapid pathway to decarbonisation of heating, transportation, and industry, which can be done today while green hydrogen, solar, wind and nuclear ramp-up. Blue hydrogen blended into the natural gas grid is only two years away and not ten or twenty years away. We need to act now on the climate emergency and blue hydrogen is the ready-made transition solution. The market opportunity is significant because it does not stop at 20% blend but moves forward to decarbonise the gas supply enabling households and premises not suitable or adaptable to heat pumps to participate in the ongoing energy transition. Britain is ideally positioned to lead the clean energy industrial revolution fuelled by blue hydrogen with access to abundant natural gas and carbon storage assets. Working with ZEG Power and their cutting edge blue hydrogen technology will enable Transitus to supply clean, robust, and affordable hydrogen into the market”, says Jack Peck, CEO of Transitus.
Transitus is a UK company that is designed to enable rapid, affordable, pragmatic energy transition, through the repurposing of existing gas infrastructure, conversion of the infrastructure and feedstock towards the production and supply of blue hydrogen, and ultimately the establishment of totally green hydrogen supply. Transitus is co-invested by Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited (BCP), a diversified energy conglomerate based in Thailand, acting through its clean energy subsidiary BCP Innovation PTE LTD, (BCPI).
“We are very pleased to be informed about the nomination of the ZEG ICC Technology to the ONS Innovation Award 2022. Out of a total of 100 applicants from 13 different countries ZEG is one of five finalists in the SME Category. This is another example of the recognition of our sustainable technology to decarbonize the future”, says a proud Arild Selvig, CEO of ZEG Power (ZEG).
ZEG has developed and patented the ZEG ICC Technology, enabling clean hydrogen production with Integrated Carbon Capture (ICC).
The winner of the award will be announced at the ONS Conference on Tuesday 30 August at 10.00 CET.
The ONS Conference is one of the leading energy conferences in the world and a meeting point for business and social leaders, innovators and politicians within the energy sector. The conference was started in 1974 and during the ONS event more than 65000 visitors from around 100 different countries are expected to participate.
Today, the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy announced the Research Council of Norway’s investment of NOK 200 million (EUR 20,271,400) in HYDROGENi: a new centre for environment-friendly energy research (FME) dedicated to hydrogen and ammonia. ZEG is participating as an industrial partner.
This eight-year centre shows its business relevance by having enlisted a strong cluster of over 50 industrial and academic partners, and innovation from the centre’s research is expected to be a key driver of the green shift in Norway, as well as create jobs and build expertise.
“Hydrogen is a prerequisite for the energy transition globally, in Europe and in Norway. It will add strategic autonomy to the energy system, a highly relevant topic in Europe today. Hydrogen can make the energy system more resilient, but also help us achieve our net-zero target by 2050,” says Alexandra Bech Gjørv, CEO of SINTEF.
“Hydrogen produced from electricity or natural gas is a growing industry that requires new knowledge and competence. HYDROGENi will conduct research on how to build a sustainable hydrogen economy and educate competent candidates on an unprecedented scale in Norway,” says Anne Borg, rector at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
Hydrogen as a main driver of the green shift
Previously, hydrogen’s role in the energy transition was thought to be a clean alternative to fossil fuels in heat and electricity production. However, due to its versatility, it can also replace fossil fuels in both other industrial processes, such as coal in the steel industry, and in the transport applications, such as the maritime sector. Therefore, hydrogen is now considered to be one of the main drivers of the green shift.
However, in order to realise hydrogen’s full potential, there are numerous knowledge and technical gaps that need to be filled. HYDROGENi aims to do just that.
“We are establishing the largest ever academic research programme in an FME by educating 35 PhD/postdoc students and over 100 MSc/BSc candidates. Their expertise will contribute to industry, the government and academic, enhancing the HYDROGENi’s lasting impact”, says Nils Røkke, Executive Vice President of Sustainability at SINTEF Energy Research and Director of HYDROGENi.
Norway as an exporter of sustainable energy
HYDROGENi will help pave Norway’s way to becoming an exporter of sustainable energy. While the centre will be led by Nils Røkke of SINTEF, its activities will be a collaborative effort from over 50 Norwegian and European partners that cover the entire hydrogen value chain.
Industry comprises a significant part of HYDROGENi’s consortium, and their support indicates both the centre’s significance and its potential:
“The strong support from industry demonstrates the relevance of the centre’s thematic activities, with its unparalleled international network and links. We aim to establish HYDROGENi as a lighthouse for European research within the area of hydrogen, building upon our sizeable portfolio of EU-funded programmes and initiatives that create true added value,” says Røkke.
HYDROGENi will spearhead research and innovations
HYDROGENi will spearhead the research and innovations needed to meet the 2030 and 2050 goals of the Norwegian hydrogen roadmap.
Its work to build a sustainable hydrogen economy will focus on four main research areas: 1. Cost-efficient and scalable production, 2. Transport and storage in Norway and Europe, 3. End-use technologies, and 4. Safety and material integrity.
“We need to build on our natural assets and hard-earned experience and expertise in order to deliver on our stated goals when it comes to hydrogen. Implementing effective and low-footprint hydrogen and ammonia production in energy-intensive sectors, in a manner that is safe and acceptable, will be key,” says Røkke.
The Research Council of Norway and international companies are now investing in ZEG Power's unique ZEG ICC TM technology for emission-free hydrogen production with integrated CO2 capture. ZEG Power was awarded NOK 16 million in December by the Research Council of Norway to scale up the ZEG technology to a ZEG H10-50 technology platform. This involves the development of ZEG plant concepts with the capacity to produce 10-50 tonnes/day of emission-free hydrogen. A number of renowned Norwegian and international companies including Siemens Energy are part of the project consortia. The project is an important step towards realization of large-scale, cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production.
"This is very motivating for us," says ZEG Power's CEO, Arild Selvig. "With this first-class consortia, I strongly believe that we will provide commercial large-scale commercial ZEG plants to the market. The goal is to realize the first ZEG H15 in 2023, and the first large-scale plant from 2025 onwards. The success of our technological developments will be an important contribution to energy transition and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions both on land and on the Norwegian continental shelf in the years ahead", he adds.
ZEG Power and its partners were awarded IPN funding, which is a programme within the Research Council of Norway for company-led projects. The grant will make a significant contribution to renewal and increased value creation for ZEG Power, its partners and society. Special Advisor at the Research Council of Norway Åge Stangeland emphasises that hydrogen will be an important priority area for Norway in the years to come and that the ZEG technology is one of several important contributions in the creation of new hydrogen value chains in Norway.
Norwegian and international companies and leading research groups are taking part in the project
The companies Siemens Energy, Sevan, Höegh LNG, Kanfa and CCB Energy are involved in the project. In addition, the important and renowned research institutions in Norway such as IFE, the University of Oslo and Sintef Industry are included. Siemens Energy wants to be a leading international sustainable energy company. Siemens Energy finds the ZEG technology very exciting and believes that this technology can be important in converting natural gas into hydrogen. On the Norwegian continental shelf such a conversion can contribute to a sharp reduction in the petroleum sector's CO2 emissions Sevan is another partner with high expectations for the technology.
“The Sevan team is excited to be part of the consortium, and we are looking forward to contribute with our floater expertise to find the best solutions for offshore hydrogen production” Says Alf-Roger Skikstein, Managing Director of Sevan SSP.
ZEG Power is now completing the first industrial plant at CCB Energy Park
ZEG Power is now completing the work on a first industrial ZEG H1 plant for H2 Production at CCB Energy Park outside Bergen. . The plant will produce 1 tonne of hydrogen per day. The work is on schedule and hydrogen production is expected to start at the end of 2022. "The development of the ZEG technology has been going on for 20 years," says Arnstein Norheim. He is ZEG Power`s Chief Technology Officer.
"With the award of this IPN project including partners, the scale-up work from a the ZEG H1 plant to a full-scale facility will be much more efficient. The experienced partners bring their perspectives and in-depth knowledge into the project", says Norheim. He is also very pleased with the Norwegian Research Council support. “That gives us great recognition”, Norheim adds.
Norway is investing in hydrogen
The new Government continues the Norwegian commitment to hydrogen. ENOVA's award of more than NOK 1 billion last week to Yara, Horisont Energi and Tizir is one important example of what is expected to come in the near future.
“Norway has great opportunities in clean hydrogen. The ZEG technology can make a strong contribution in realizing the potential of hydrogen as one of the cornerstones in the energy system of Norway as well as the rest of the world”, Norheim concludes.
The Norwegian Research Council’s Innovation Award (Innovasjonsprisen) is given to an individual, business, or public entity that has achieved innovation through the strategic use of research. For the award, the council look for candidates who are moving boundaries for what is possible within a field. ZEG is ranked as top 3 in this year’s prestigious award.
The award is intended to highlight the benefits of research as a starting point for innovation and is meant to inspire others to invest strategically in research and apply research results in innovative ways. ZEG was nominated for the company's development of an efficient solution for the conversion of natural gas and biogas to hydrogen. “We are proud of being one of the three finalists in this prestigious award, where we met tough competition from great teams with exceptional research and innovative product development. It is very satisfying that our research and technology development over the last 20 years is recognised. Our goal is to contribute to Norway’s transition towards a greener ecomomy and industry. This recognition inspires us to continue to develop climate-friendly technology and solutions that can further develop the Norwegian industrial adventure,” says CEO of ZEG, Arild Selvig.
The researchers Magnar Bjørås and Sulalit Bandyopadhyay at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), won the Norwegian Research Council’s Innovation Award for 2021. They have developed a sensitive corona test that has been a key tool in the work of taking the country through the corona pandemic. The innovation has been sold to health services in other countries and have resulted in a start-up company with international potential in diagnostics.
The industrial software company Cognite was the third finalist.The company provides software solutions for industries such as oil and gas, and renewable energy, and is considered to be one of Norway's first unicorns.
Norway faces major challenges in fulfilling the country's climate targets while creating new industrial jobs. The task is extra demanding as our most important industry, the offshore oil and gas industry, is the largest contributor to CO₂ emissions. One way of decarbonizing the offshore oil and gas industry is substituting the power generated by gas turbines with electrical cables from onshore. The question is whether this is the right use of onshore electrical power as long as it is considered a scarce resource for new onshore green industry development.
The latest energy white paper from The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE Report 36. 2020-2021) states that it is possible to realise large industrial projects at the same time as we meet our climate commitments. However, these industrial projects and plans will require large supplies of electric power. Electrification of offshore oil and gas, construction of battery factories, roll-out of charging stations for electric cars, and the production of hydrogen are just some examples.
In a recent news article (Norwegian text), the question if the electrification of offshore oil and gas production reduced the possibilities for the new green industrial projects onshore, was raised. Although the latest public prognoses of the Norwegian power supply from The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate shows a power surplus, there are regional challenges in Norway that need to be solved, and where prioritization of electrical power supply is a key topic.
At ZEG, we have developed a technology that produces clean hydrogen with integrated carbon capture. Our main input is natural gas, but our plant, which now is under construction and will be located at CCB Energy Park, Kollsnes, outside Bergen, is also relying on stable supply of electric power. The Bergen region is one of the regions where electrical power is creating challenges.
We are convinced that Norwegian politicians will do their outmost to secure the power supply required to ensure the transformation of our offshore oil and gas industry as well as growth in new green industrial projects. Short term, however, it will be critical to prioritize new green industry development onshore, in order to create the industry for the future.
Clean hydrogen is defined as an important part of the solution if the world is to reach the climate goals of the Paris agreement. We at ZEG Power are proud to do our part.
ZEG Power AS (ZEG) has awarded the contract for engineering, procurement and construction services to Zeton for the first ZEG H1 plant. The plant will have a hydrogen production capacity of approximately 1 tonne/day from natural gas, with fully integrated carbon capture, and is planned to be commissioned and operational at the end of 2022. The plant will be installed at CCB Energy Park in Øygarden municipality on the west coast of Norway. The plant will be sold to and operated by H2 Production.
An important step in supplying the world with sustainable blue hydrogen
“This contract award marks a milestone in ZEG’s history, as an important stepping-stone towards commercialization and global rollout of the innovative ZEG ICCTM technology, and ultimately the supply of clean hydrogen to international markets,” Arild Selvig, CEO in ZEG, says. “Blue hydrogen is the fastest and most cost-effective way to supply the world market with the vast volumes of hydrogen the world needs if we are to reach the climate goals of the Paris agreement”, Selvig adds.
Long term cooperation
The award of the EPC contract to Zeton is a result of long-term cooperation and joint development of an industrial ZEG production unit for clean hydrogen based on the proprietary ZEG technology with integrated carbon capture (ZEG ICCTM technology).
“With a global focus on development of clean energy resources for a more sustainable future, we are excited to continue our journey with ZEG Power”, Johan ter Harmsel, Managing Director of Zeton says.
”In the period prior to this project award, both teams have extensively explored the options to combine ZEG Power’s deep knowledge on the process together with our vast experience in executing this project on the basis of a modularized approach. Due to this approach, the entire site preparation can be executed in parallel with the pre-assembly of the plant, resulting in shorter overall delivery time of the entire project.” Ter Harmsel, adds.
“We highly value our close partnership with Zeton, which has developed over the last three years, and we strongly believe that Zeton is the best partner in the realisation of the first commercial ZEG hydrogen production plant.” Arild Selvig, CEO in ZEG, says in a comment.
Zeton was selected as ZEG’s trusted partner for this strategic project due to the company’s deep understanding of the ZEG technology and their impressive competence and track record. Zeton is a leader in design and fabrication of first-of-a-kind systems and will act as the system integrator in the project. They are highly experienced in efficient execution of projects with innovative process related technologies of this scale. The construction of the plant is now starting while the preparedness on the site has been going on for some time.
The CEO’s of Zeton and ZEG Power, Johan ter Harmsel and Arild Selvig are pleased with their long term relationship and the new contract.
