Air Liquide will build, own, and operate four large modular air separation units (ASUs) as part of an $850m investment that will double its oxygen production capacity in Texas to support ExxonMobil’s proposed low-carbon hydrogen project in Baytown.
The four ASUs will primarily supply ExxonMobil with low-carbon oxygen and nitrogen. Specifically, it will generate a “record volume” of 9,000 metric tonnes of oxygen daily and 6,500 metric tonnes per day of nitrogen to support the production of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia.
Additionally, the plants will also supply large volumes of argon and rare gases, such as krypton and xenon, for other US-based customers.
In conjunction with the plant announcement, the duo has also agreed that hydrogen produced at the Baytown facility will be transported through Air Liquide’s existing pipeline network along the US Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana.
Air Liquide’s development is dependent on ExxonMobil’s final investment decision.
François Jackow, CEO of Air Liquide, described the investment as a concrete example of Air Liquide’s determination to embark on first-mover projects to contribute to the emergence of a low-carbon future.
He added, “The Baytown low carbon platform project demonstrates our capacity to innovate and lever on our footprint in the US to actively contribute to the decarbonisation of the industry.”
“Through this new agreement with ExxonMobil, Air Liquide is proud to support the development of what is poised to be the world’s largest low-carbon platform while reinforcing its gas offering in this key industrial basin.”
In line with the group’s ADVANCE plan, the ASUs will utilise a low-carbon electricity supply to reduce the carbon footprint of oxygen production by two-thirds. The plants will also use 25% less electricity than conventional ASUs to make each tonne of oxygen.
ExxonMobil’s planned hydrogen facility, set to be operational in 2028, is expected to be the world’s largest. If successful, it is expected to produce one billion cubic feet of low-carbon hydrogen daily and more than one million tonnes of ammonia annually.
The project is also expected to capture and store seven million tonnes of CO2 per year.
Dan Ammann, President of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions, said, “Momentum continues to build for the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen project and the emerging hydrogen market.”
“This partnership with Air Liquide further strengthens our Baytown project by enabling hydrogen distribution through existing networks and securing key feedstocks.”
