US multinational conglomerate Honeywell recently announced it has signed an MoU with The Green Solutions Group Corporation (TGS) regarding Vietnam’s inaugural green hydrogen plant, the Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen project in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh.

Under the MoU, Honeywell will contribute its advanced technologies like project automation design and management along with energy management solutions such as battery energy storage systems (BESS) to enable TGS to integrate renewable energy sources into the green hydrogen plant.

“Honeywell’s battery energy storage system will play a key enabling role in the Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen project,” said Mr. Ramanathan Valliyappan, Regional General Manager of Honeywell Process Solutions. “It will extend renewable energy from TGS’s solar farms beyond sunlight time as well as extend wind power when the winds are calm. Honeywell’s BESS platform helps decrease costs and carbon emissions by providing grid stability from renewable power sources, thus enabling the production of green hydrogen at the Tra Vinh plant.”

In addition to BESS, Honeywell will provide extensive solutions and expertise covering the entire hydrogen value chain to help TGS operate safely and profitably and meet its renewable energy production goals.

“Our collaboration marks a critical step towards the production of green hydrogen at the Tra Vinh plant,” said Ms. Huynh Thi Kim Quyen, Managing Director of TGS. “The Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen project is a major landmark for our company and a significant milestone towards realizing our national goal of decarbonizing the energy sector with renewable energy solutions, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future.”

According to “Country: Vietnam”, the World Bank Group Climate Change Knowledge Portal, 2021, Vietnam is one of the top 5 countries likely to be most affected by climate change, with possible severe social and economic risks. In that context, Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 underscores the urgency of initiatives like the Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen project, especially in regions with high solar and wind power potential like the Mekong Delta.

Covering an area of 21 ha, the Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen project has total investment of $341 million. Construction began in March 2023, and the project is expected to become operational two years later, initially producing 24,000 tonnes of green hydrogen and 195,000 tonnes of oxygen a year. It will also provide direct jobs for 300-500 local people.

Committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations by 2035, Honeywell has a rich history of innovation to support environmental and social objectives. In 2022, approximately 60 per cent of its research and development investment for new product introductions was directed towards ESG-driven outcomes, aligning with its sustainability goals.