HOUSTON, TX, Mar 14, 2025 – ABB and Charbone Hydrogen Corp. have signed a MoU to collaborate on the development of up to 15 modular and scalable green hydrogen production facilities across North America over the next five years, providing a clean fuel source for existing hydrogen users and heavy industrial processes such as steelmaking, which currently use gray hydrogen as an energy source.
The MoU positions ABB as the supplier for design, engineering, fabrication, testing, and providing modular and standard electrical substations (eHouses) for connecting production facilities with local utilities. ABB will assist Charbone in standardizing basic engineering for systems and components across its projects to improve energy efficiency and reliability. Depending on project needs, ABB may also take on roles in automation, electrification, and telecom services.
Among the sites the collaboration covers is Charbone’s Sorel-Tracy facility near Montreal in Québec, Canada. The facility is expected to be connected to the Hydro-Québec grid by the end of quarter two in 2025, using hydroelectricity to power green hydrogen electrolyzers. The plant will create a blueprint for designing and engineering modular and accessible equipment for other sites being developed by Charbone. The next project will be in the greater Detroit area, the manufacturing base for major automotive companies.
“This strategic collaboration with ABB is a strong and significant signal about our proposition for the North American green hydrogen market,” said Daniel Charette, chief operating officer of Charbone Hydrogen Corporation. “With the Sorel-Tracy project moving quickly to on-site activities, and the capabilities of plug-and-play modular approach to get production starting in a minimal number of weeks, Charbone will support the decarbonization of industry.”
Gouvernement du Québec has developed a Green Hydrogen and Bioenergy Strategy to support the deployment of hydrogen and bioenergy to power industrial sectors such as transportation, primary metals, and chemicals. It identifies green hydrogen and bioenergy as having the potential to reduce Québec’s consumption of petroleum products by nearly one billion liters a year by 2030. This could cut the region’s greenhouse gas emissions by four megatons of carbon dioxide a year – the equivalent of removing 1.2 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the roads1.
“Green hydrogen has an important role to play in the transition towards a low carbon energy future,” said Per Erik Holsten, president of ABB Energy Industries. “We are proud to collaborate with Charbone on its strategy to develop and grow green hydrogen production facilities across North America, enabling an important sector to scale and supporting industries to outrun leaner and cleaner.”
In addition to the MoU, Charbone will acquire ABB’s Extended Operator Workplace (EOW) system for all the planned facilities and a main Operator Workplace at Charbone’s headquarters to monitor all the facilities. The EOWs – the first to be installed in green hydrogen production plants in North America – will enhance production and reduce downtime via 24/7 monitoring from local and remote-control centers.
Global hydrogen demand, primarily concentrated in the refining and chemical sectors, reached 97 megatons (Mt) in 2023, representing an increase of 2.5 percent yearly. Low-emissions hydrogen production was less than 1 Mt, but it could reach 49 Mtpa by 2030 based on announced projects2.
1] https://www.quebec.ca/en/government/policies-orientations/strategy-green-hydrogen-bioenergy
2] https://www.iea.org/reports/global-hydrogen-review-2024/executive-summary
Source: ABB
About ABB Energy Industries
ABB’s Industrial Automation division, now known as Process Automation, offers a range of products, systems, and services designed to optimize productivity and efficiency in various industries. The offerings include integrated automation, electrification, and digital solutions tailored to oil and gas, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, metals and mining, marine, and turbocharging sectors. ABB has been in business since 1988, following the merger of ASEA (1883) and Brown, Boveri & Cie (1891). The company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and operates in over 100 countries. In 2023, ABB reported approximately $32.2 billion in revenues, with the Process Automation division contributing significantly to this figure. The division’s solutions are designed to enhance industrial processes, improve energy efficiency, and ensure safety and reliability across various applications.
About CHARBONE
Charbone is a Canadian integrated green hydrogen company headquartered in Brossard, Quebec. The company specializes in developing modular and expandable hydrogen production facilities across North America, focusing on delivering environmentally friendly solutions for industrial and commercial enterprises. Charbone’s strategy includes acquiring hydropower plants in Canada and the United States to produce green hydrogen using renewable energy sources, thereby distinguishing itself as a provider of eco-responsible solutions. The Q3 results of 2024 suggest that the company’s reported revenues are approx. $262,000. The company operates in the renewable energy sector, serving industries seeking sustainable energy alternatives to reduce carbon emissions and promote environmental sustainability.