Polyamide Production from Low-Carbon Hydrogen

DOMO Chemicals and Hynamics commit to joint project for polyamide production from low-carbon hydrogen.   Engineering polyamide materials producer DOMO Chemicals and Hynamics, a 100% subsidiary of EDF Group specializing in low-carbon hydrogen production, have entered into a partnership project aimed at achieving zero-carbon emissions in 100% of hydrogen used in the Belle-Étoile industrial zone in Saint-Fons (south of Lyon, France) in the heart of France's Vallée de la Chimie ("Chemistry Valley"). For the first time in France, the "HyDom" project will enable the construction of an 85-megawatt (MW) hydrogen production facility using water electrolysis at the Belle-Étoile plant and will have annual low-carbon hydrogen fuel production capacity of 11,000 metric tons. The facility will be powered by France's low-carbon electricity mix. By 2027, the facility will supply 100% of annual hexamethylenediamine production, an important component used in plastics production. Upon project completion, it will prevent 84 kilotons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually. Hexamethylenediamine and ultimately durable, low-carbon polyamides will be used in various applications across major industrial sectors such as automotive, electronics, and heating and cooling. This project represents an important step toward decarbonizing industrial sites using grey hydrogen (produced from fossil fuels). The location near major transportation routes in Vallée de la Chimie offers opportunities for creating a more comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem. The first phase of the project will consist of establishing and defining technical concepts and integrating the low-carbon hydrogen production facility into the larger hexamethylenediamine production process. Given the high power scale of the future electrolytic hydrogen production facility, the HyDom project is being developed in close cooperation with RTE (the organization responsible for managing the French electricity grid) to address connection issues. As a priority project for industry's zero-carbon strategy and the "France 2030" investment plan, HyDom is supported by the French government and has been submitted to the European Commission for public financing. Christelle Rouillé, CEO of Hynamics: "In line with the targets set in the France 2030 investment plan for a flexible and decarbonized industrial sector, Hynamics is proud to support leading hydrogen-consuming industrialists in their decarbonization efforts. The scope of the project jointly launched with DOMO Chemicals reflects Hynamics' expertise in developing industrial electrolytic hydrogen production projects with strong environmental impact. By replacing the unit currently producing hydrogen from natural gas, our project represents an important step toward achieving industrial sovereignty and our climate targets," she said. Yves Bonte, CEO of DOMO Chemicals: "Reducing CO2 emissions continues to be a major challenge for industry, and DOMO's low-carbon footprint solutions are designed to help customers achieve their own CO2 emission reduction targets. This joint investment in a low-carbon hydrogen unit, which will replace the existing natural gas-based production unit, will provide the first hydrogen infrastructure in the Lyon region. This strategic partnership will help us and, hopefully, the entire ecosystem in Vallée de la Chimie achieve DOMO's ambitious 2030 targets focused on decarbonization, renewable energy use, and delivering customer solutions," he said.       SOURCE