Oxygen Utilization from Electrolysis Plants: Use Cases and Viability
This presentation will explore the opportunities, challenges, and economics of oxygen utilization from electrolysis plants. Transportation via pipeline is currently the most viable option for moving large quantities of oxygen, as liquefaction is very energy intensive and transportation via high-pressure gas cylinders is only economical for very small amounts. Dedicated oxygen pipelines exist in many industrialized areas alongside hydrogen pipelines. Several green hydrogen projects currently under development are taking advantage of this infrastructure. One such project is the Trailblazer electrolyzer plant in Oberhausen, Germany. The 20 MW plant is being constructed in a 120 hectare chemical complex and will utilize a 24-stack PEM electrolyzer to produce 335 kilograms of low-carbon hydrogen/hour and 2,680 kilograms of renewable oxygen/hour. It will be the first large-scale renewable hydrogen project connected to both existing hydrogen and oxygen pipelines. This will support sectors such as steel, chemicals, refining, and mobility in North Rhine-Westphalia by accelerating the availability of gases produced with renewable electricity. The project demonstrates how proximity to an established hydrogen and oxygen transport infrastructure can greatly contribute to the success of a green hydrogen development.