Topsoe and ExxonMobil have signed an agreement under which Topsoe will deliver its H₂ SynCOR technology to ExxonMobil’s planned low-carbon H₂ production facility in Baytown, Texas. The technology will enable ExxonMobil to produce H₂ at mega scale as well as capture and store more than 98% of its associated CO₂ emissions, or around 7 MM metric tpy.

The facility will be built at ExxonMobil’s integrated refining and petrochemical complex and the carbon capture process will be delivered by Honeywell UOP.

ExxonMobil’s low-carbon H₂, ammonia, and carbon capture facility is expected to generate up to 1 Bft³d of H₂, delivering low-carbon fuel to the Baytown olefins plant and other Houston-area facilities. Replacing natural gas with H₂ at the Baytown olefins plant could reduce the integrated complex’s CO₂ emissions by up to 30%.

Elena Scaltritti, Chief Commercial Officer, Topsoe, said, “We are very excited to support ExxonMobil with our unique technology. Once complete, this ambitious project will result in H₂ that can be used for low-carbon fuels and chemicals to help meet global net zero targets. We are eager to start working with ExxonMobil and to enable the capturing of massive volumes of CO₂ emissions from the H₂ production.”

Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions, said, “ExxonMobil’s investment in large scale low-carbon H₂ production shows our commitment to supporting customers in their decarbonization efforts and to reducing emissions at our own operations. The scale of this project is expected to enable up to a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from our Baytown facility by switching from natural gas as a fuel source to low-carbon H₂.”

Facts about low-carbon H₂ and SynCOR

Low-carbon H₂ is produced by converting natural gas into H₂ and CO₂ in the presence of steam. More than 99% of the associated CO₂ can be captured and permanently stored underground.

To produce the large amount of H₂ needed by ExxonMobil, Topsoe applies its SynCOR technology, which enable mega-scale H₂ production as well as cost efficient carbon capture.

To deliver an integrated solution, Topsoe has teamed up with carbon capture technology licensor, Honeywell UOP. As technology integrator, Topsoe guarantees the carbon intensity of the integrated low carbon facility including, H₂ production and carbon capture.

SynCOR is Topsoe´s proprietary technology based on advanced autothermal reforming principles. Supported by 300 years of accumulative, safe operation, SynCOR is often the preferred technology for mega scale H₂ production, due to its maturity and low capital and operating costs.