The municipality of Härjedalen in Sweden and the company Lhyfe will soon study the conditions for the production of renewable hydrogen. The estimated capacity is 5 MW.
An opportunity and an ambition
The municipality of Härjedalen will host the Lhyfe company, specialized in the production of renewable hydrogen for transport and industry. The company has been working with the municipality since November 2022, with the reliability analysis to be completed in early 2023. The objective is to explore the conditions of renewable hydrogen production in Härjedalen.
The feasibility study will also address issues related to energy supply, generation capacity and technology selection. In addition, the final report will address location, land availability, waste heat utilization and oxygen gas co-production.
LG Nordlander, chairman of the Härjedalen city council, says:
“We currently have two wind farms one, built and one, under construction, in the southeast part of the municipality. This, combined with the proximity of the inland railroad, means we believe we have a good opportunity for hydrogen production in the municipality. It’s a political priority to do what we can to take advantage of the development opportunities arising from the green industrialization that’s going on in the country. So it’s great to have initiated a collaboration with Lhyfe to pursue that ambition.”
Furthermore, Härjedalen has good connections to the railway, the inlandsbanan. In addition, according to Lhyfe, the region has a good energy location.
A favorable situation
A plant producing local renewable hydrogen could integrate local surplus electricity. This surplus comes from wind and hydroelectric power. As a result, this plant would relieve the main power grid.
Hydrogen production in the municipality of Härjedalen would provide hydrogen for the transportation and industrial sectors. At the same time, it would gradually eliminate fossil fuels. Finally, it would reduce the region’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Lhyfe is a member of Vätgas Sverige (Hydrogen Sweden) and Hydrogen Europe. The company has a commercial pipeline representing a total generation capacity of 9.8GW by 2030. In addition, the Nantes-based company is starting a test phase on an offshore hydrogen production pilot site in September 2022.
