Siemens Energy and the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have signed a partnership agreement aimed at advancing the ‘global energy transition based on renewable energy, in support of sustainable development goals and climate action’.
Under the terms of the agreement, the organisations will ‘cooperate, facilitate, and strengthen collaboration in areas to advance the global energy transition based on renewable energy’.
The wide-ranging scope of collaboration extends to a number of areas, including: ‘roadmap development’ prioritising communities and regions presently lacking access to modern energy; developing the business case for ‘green hydrogen fuel’ as a major contributor for the energy transition; jointly supporting decarbonisation efforts for heat generation and industrial processes, including hard to abate industries like cement, steel and petrochemicals; and facilitating private sector investment in the renewable energy sector.
Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy, said: “This partnership leverages and amplifies our strengths to accelerate the energy transition — action to tackle climate change is a global imperative.
“Our best chance of success is through strong partnerships with dedicated organisations. We believe that innovative technologies are the key to combating climate change. The energy transition is a considerable challenge which requires great change, but offers significant potential.”
Meanwhile, Siemens Energy and Messer Group have entered into a cooperation agreement with the goal to work on ‘green hydrogen projects’ in the 5 to 50MW range for industrial and mobility applications.
Within the framework of this agreement Messer Ibérica has already submitted three ‘clean hydrogen projects’ in the chemical complex at Tarragona to the Spanish government. These projects will have a total ‘electrolyser capacity’ of 70MW.
The intention of the partners is to achieve the most economic operation possible, by maximising cost efficiency and the utilisation of all co-products in an integrated hub concept. In the Tarragona chemical park Messer Ibérica operates a pipeline network for oxygen where this electrolysis co-product will be used.
Mr Bruch concluded: “Green hydrogen will be one important lever to developing sustainable solutions, especially in the hard-to-abate sectors of industry and mobility. For us, it is important to drive the development of a hydrogen economy in partnerships and I am grateful for the trust of the Messer Group to realise projects jointly.”