Dutch hydrogen consortium to develop burner technology for production processes

A hydrogen industry consortium has been set up in the Netherlands to reduce carbon emissions from manufacturing processes, engineering consultancy DNV GL said July 21.

The aim is to develop burner technology that allows the gradual transition from natural gas to hydrogen in energy-intensive industrial production processes. The initiative has been launched by DNV GL and Dutch glass company Celsian, with around 30 project partners.

"Existing burner and burner control technology to decarbonize industrial production processes are not yet market-ready. Our program aims to have new burner concepts available within two years," said Sander Gersen of DNV GL -- Oil & Gas.

A first field demonstration is planned at Nedmag in Veendam, the Netherlands, where magnesium salt is processed using high-temperature processes.

By the end of 2020 an oil stove at the plant is to be to run on hydrogen supplied by Gasunie's 1 MW Hystock production facility in Zuidwending, which uses on-site solar power to produce renewable hydrogen via electrolysis.

The program's proposed solution builds on a fuel adaptive burner developed by DNV GL and burner system manufacturer Zantingh.

The burner can handle any mix of natural gas and hydrogen, making it suitable for gradual changes in the natural gas/hydrogen mix over time.

The consortium includes 30 private and public partners, including the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Nedmag, Stork, Schott, GasTerra, Air Liquide, Owens Corning, Tecoglas, Tata Steel, GRT Gaz, Corbion, Gasunie, Saint Gobain, Equinor, Linde, ARC France, SGD Pharma, Celsian, Nippon Electric Glass, Ardagh Glass and Vitro Architectural Glass.