Shell teams up with GE Gas Power to slash LNG emissions

LNG giant Shell is joining forces with GE Gas Power to reduce the carbon intensity of Shell’s LNG supply projects around the world by using hydrogen in gas turbines.

In that regard, GE Gas Power and Shell Global Solutions have signed a development agreement, according to a joint statement.

The largest source of emissions in an LNG facility stems from firing natural gas in the power generation and mechanical drive gas turbines, the statement said.

Therefore, one of the possible paths to decarbonize LNG production is to use hydrogen as a low carbon fuel in these engines, it said.

However, the source and nature of this fuel matters as well.

Shell’s blue hydrogen process is a technology that can deliver the “lowest carbon intensity fuel of its kind, with technologies and building blocks tested and commercially proven at a large scale,” the statement said.

Thw two firms will also work with Baker Hughes, who is exclusive distributor of certain heavy duty gas turbines and services in the oil and gas segment.

Together, the partners “can accelerate the deployment of pragmatic and impactful solutions towards high-hydrogen capabilities in these gas turbines fleets resulting in a significant reduction of carbon emissions and water utilization globally,” John Intile, VP, engineering at GE Gas Power, said in the statement.

100 percent hydrogen without water

GE’s B&E class heavy-duty gas turbines can already operate today on 100 percent hydrogen emitting up to 25ppm NOx with the use of water in diffusion combustors, according to the statement.

As part of this development agreement, GE is targeting gas turbine technology with the capability to operate on 100 percent hydrogen without the use of water while still maintaining NOx emissions.

GE said the new DLN combustor technology would become the backbone of new retrofittable system solutions for low-carbon operation of gas turbine while providing the reliability and availability required for LNG facilities.

Dry operation also represents “significant savings” in water use and conservation. Using DLN systems saves up to 32,000 liters of water per hour versus comparable alternatives, it said.

DLN combustors are more efficient and do not use water as a diluent, thus offering LNG operators the ability to lower carbon and conserve water in their operations, the statement said.

In future, the developments to the DLN combustion technology could be installed on either new or existing 6B or 7E gas turbines.

This would help reduce carbon emissions in industrial applications and LNG operations, particularly where water usage is challenging, the statement said.

Most Popular

Coastal Bend LNG plans large Texas export plant

Coastal Bend LNG said it had initiated development of a 22.5 million ton per annum (mtpa) natural gas liquefaction and export facility on the Texas Gulf Coast.

HD Hyundai Samho scores contract to build LNG carrier quartet

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Samho has secured an order to build four liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers for about $1.03 billion.

Golden Pass LNG contractors agree terms for second and third train

Japan's Chiyoda and US-based McDermott have signed a binding term sheet with Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture owned by QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, to complete the construction of the second and third liquefaction units at the giant LNG export plant in Texas.

More News Like This

Shell denies BP takeover talks

UK-based LNG giant Shell denied it was in talks to buy BP following media reports.

Nordsol in bio-LNG production milestone

Nordsol said that the three operational bio-LNG plants in the Netherlands and the UK, which utilize its technology, have collectively surpassed the 10,000-ton mark in bio-LNG production.

Shell’s LNG Canada achieves first LNG

LNG giant Shell has started production at the first liquefaction train at its LNG Canada export terminal in Kitimat, an LNG Canada spokesperson told LNG Prime on Sunday.

Shell’s LNG Canada nears first LNG

LNG giant Shell is nearing the launch of the first liquefaction train at its LNG Canada export terminal in Kitimat.