BP, GE in hydrogen power link

London – BP and GE are to jointly develop hydrogen power projects with the aim of dramatically reducing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel based electricity generation, the companies announced 18 July.

Under the agreement, BP and GE will focus on technology to create hydrogen from fossil fuels, while sequestering the carbon as carbon dioxide in deep geological formations. The partners said they will bring extensive capabilities in coal gasification, reforming technology, gas turbines and carbon capture/storage to the collaboration.

“BP and GE’s strategic approaches to developing increasingly cleaner, lower carbon power options are closely aligned and our skills and strengths are highly complementary,” said Vivienne Cox, BP chief executive of gas, power and renewables, in a press statement

"Our companies’ leading-edge technologies can make hydrogen production efficient, reliable, and economical for large-scale, commercial power production. Our financial strength will ensure it happens now globally,” added David Calhoun, vice chairman of GE, and president and CEO of GE Infrastructure.

The companies aim to establish up to 15 hydrogen power projects over the next 10 years. These include BP’s previously planned carbon capture and sequestration projects in at Peterhead, Scotland and Carson, California, which will both employ GE technology.

BP and GE are considering a joint venture to invest in hydrogen power projects and a joint development agreement for development of related technology. As a first step, the companies said they would jointly participate in the hydrogen power projects in Scotland and California.

The projects are expected to generate significant base-load power while capturing and storing some 90% of the carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted, in deep geological formations, said a joint statement.