Corpus Christi plans hydrogen hub

CORPUS AT THE APEX

HYDROGEN • CORPUS CHRISTI IS PLANNING TO BECOME THE MAJOR SOURCE OF RENEWABLE HYDROGEN IN THE US, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TECHNOLOGY LEADERS AND TERMINALS

APEX CLEAN ENERGY, backed by funds managed by Ares Management Corp, has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) and Epic Midstream, with the aim of developing a leading green hydrogen production, storage, transport and export operation, including a newly constructed dedicated pipeline and a green fuels hub to be located at the Port of Corpus Christi on the Texas Gulf Coast.

As currently envisaged, the project will produce green hydrogen and other derivative green fuels in volumes not yet seen in the US, with additional scale possible by the end of the decade end. Apex expects to use its industryleading portfolio of wind and solar projects currently in development in Texas to power facilities producing green hydrogen and derivative green fuels products.

In addition, Epic Midstream will leverage its pipeline construction and operating expertise to accelerate the development of a new, dedicated green fuels pipeline. The project would also aim to leverage and develop existing and new storage, processing and export infrastructure sited on land owned by PCCA.

“Together with Ares, Epic and the Port of Corpus Christi, Apex would leverage the highest-quality wind and solar resources in Texas to help decarbonise difficult-to-abate industries - including the transportation,

CORPUS CHRISTI’S GREEN HYDROGEN PLAN WILL LEAN

ON EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE BUT PROMOTE FURTHER shipping, fertiliser, chemical and refining sectors - and include optionality for global export. This would be green fuel production at gigawatt scale,” Apex said in a statement at the announcement of the MOU.

ONGOING BATTLE This MOU, signed in late February, builds on a previous MOU between Apex and PCCA, signed in May 2021, to develop renewable energy infrastructure on PCCA-owned property to support the production of green hydrogen and optionality to provide renewable power directly to the port and its customers.

“We are excited to build on our existing relationship with PCCA to develop and build what we believe will be one of the largest green hydrogen projects in the country to date,” says Keith Derman, partner and co-head of Ares Infrastructure and Power. “The project demonstrates the type of innovative, broad and collaborative approach across industries and stakeholders that we believe can deliver novel energy solutions that help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy and combat climate change. Further, this underscores Ares’ leading capabilities in providing differentiated solutions to a growing asset class as we seek to drive returns for our investors through opportunities aligned with their sustainability goals.”

“This initiative is exactly the type of interdisciplinary collaboration that would enable scalable projects that move the needle on diversification of the energy marketplace,” adds Jeff Pollack, chief strategy and sustainability officer at PCCA. “This monumental potential project would directly contribute to the burgeoning clean hydrogen hub at the Port of Corpus Christi and would directly support our ambitions to cultivate world-scale hydrogen exports as our part in national decarbonisation and energy balance of trade objectives.”

For Epic Midstream, the project offers the opportunity to build on its existing pipeline and terminalling network, which included some 700 miles (1,250 km) of pipelines bringing crude oil and NGLs from the Permian and Eagle Ford basins to the Corpus Christi market, as well as its own and third party export terminals. www.apexcleanenergy.com www.epicmid.com www.portofcc.com