The Anonymous Widower

New North Sea Gas To Flow After Approval For Jackdaw Drilling

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.

This is the sub-heading.

The first significant British field in almost a decade could begin production by Christmas. The taxes raised will fund ‘clean power’, the chancellor says

These three paragraphs add more detail.

North Sea gas production will increase within weeks after ministers gave approval on Wednesday for drilling in the first big new field in almost a decade.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, confirmed that Jackdaw, off Aberdeen, has passed a new environmental assessment and will go into production before Christmas.

The field is the UK’s largest known untapped gas reservoir and could account for 6 per cent of North Sea gas production when fully operational.

I will now ask a couple of questions.

How Will Jackdaw’s Gas Get To The UK Gas Grid?

I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

Gas extracted from the Jackdaw gas field will reach the UK gas network by utilizing existing North Sea energy infrastructure through a multi-stage pipeline connection:

1. Subsea Pipeline to Shearwater: Gas will first flow from the Jackdaw platform through a newly designed 31km subsea pipeline to the nearby, existing Shearwater hub.

2. Transportation Onshore: From the Shearwater platform, the gas and associated liquids will be tied into major existing offshore transmission systems—specifically the Fulmar Gas Line and the Forties Pipeline System.

3. UK Grid Entry: These pipelines route the resources directly onshore to processing facilities, primarily the St Fergus gas terminal in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where the gas is processed and fed directly into the Great British National Transmission System (NTS).

The project, operated by Adura (a Shell and Equinor joint venture), has received final government approval and is expected to begin supplying the UK grid as early as late October 2026.

What Is Aquaventus?

I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

AquaVentus is a major German-led energy initiative aimed at producing green hydrogen at scale from offshore wind energy in the North Sea. Managed by the AquaVentus Förderverein e.V.—which is registered on the island of Helgoland with offices in Berlin—the project brings together a consortium of more than 100 international companies, research institutions, and organizations.

The overarching goal of the initiative is to establish 10 gigawatts (GW) of offshore electrolysis capacity by 2035. This capacity is projected to yield roughly 1 million tonnes of climate-neutral green hydrogen per year, providing a critical clean energy source to decarbonize heavy industries, aviation, and maritime shipping that cannot be easily electrified.

Core Architecture & Flagship Projects

The initiative operates through a synchronized value chain broken down into highly specialized sub-projects:

 AquaPrimus: A practical demonstrator project testing offshore wind turbines integrated directly with hydrogen production units under real-world sea conditions.

AquaSector: A large-scale offshore hydrogen park intended to prove the commercial and operational viability of scaled-up marine electrolysis.

AquaDuctus: The central “hydrogen backbone” pipeline. Instead of converting electricity to send ashore via traditional subsea cables, this pipeline will collect hydrogen directly from the offshore platforms and transport it straight to the German core grid. It was officially integrated into Germany’s hydrogen core network planning in October 2024.

AquaCampus: A European research and testing platform set up in the North Sea to advance marine electrolysis technologies.

AquaPortus & AquaNavis: Infrastructure projects focused on adapting coastal harbours and developing hydrogen-based maritime shipping applications.

Infrastructure and Partnerships

Rather than relying purely on electricity transmission, AquaVentus champions a combined connection concept. This hybrid infrastructure links offshore wind farms using both traditional power cables and hydrogen pipelines. Depending on fluctuating market electricity prices and real-time demand, wind farms can alternate between feeding electricity directly into the grid or generating hydrogen on-site. The initiative has actively lobbied European regulators to fully anchor these hybrid layouts into offshore wind energy legislation.

The consortium includes major global energy and industrial players like RWE, BP, Shell, TotalEnergies, Ørsted, and Siemens Energy. Furthermore, it continues to scale its international footprint, recently partnering with organizations like Hydrogen Scotland to explore connecting North Sea infrastructure directly into broader European energy markets.

Aquaventus will connect to Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Aberdeen and Humberside in the UK to Wilhelmshaven in Germany.

Could Aquaventus Be Supplied with Scottish Hydrogen?

I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

Yes, AquaVentus can be supplied with Scottish green hydrogen.

Key Details of the Partnership

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): AquaVentus (a German-led offshore wind-to-hydrogen initiative) and Hydrogen Scotland signed an agreement to link Scottish offshore wind and hydrogen production into the North Sea energy network.

Shared Infrastructure: The collaboration aims to connect Scotland’s offshore wind potential with cross-border transport concepts like the planned AquaDuctus offshore hydrogen pipeline.

Export Goals: The partnership is designed to establish Scotland as a major green hydrogen supplier to European markets such as Germany, integrating Scottish production into a pan-European hydrogen backbone.

Some electrolysis capacity would need to be built.

Could Jackdaw’s Gas Be Used To Create Hydrogen For AquaVentus?

Consider.

  • There will be an Aquaventus connection from Aberdeen to Wilhelmshaven via Humberside.
  • Jackdaw is connected to the St. Fergus Gas Terminal, which is less than 40 miles from Aberdeen.
  • There are now efficient ways of extracting the four hydrogen atoms of each methane molecule from natural gas.
  • There is plenty of green electricity at Aberdeen.

I believe that natural gas from Jackdaw could be turned into hydrogen at Aberdeen and sent to Germany via Aquaventus.

One of the best methods to create hydrogen has been developed by HiiROC.

  • HiiROC is a spin-out of Hull University.
  • HiiROC’s backers include Melrose Industries, HydrogenOne, Centrica, Cemex, Hyundai and Kia, Wintershall Dea and VNG.
  • HydrogenOne is backed by INEOS.
  • HiiROC uses a fifth of the energy of traditional electrolysis.
  • The HiiROC process, which is called thermal plasma electrolysis,  splits any hydrocarbon gas into hydrogen and carbon black.
  • Feedstocks can include chemical plant offgas, biomethane and natural gas.
  • Carbon black has various uses including manufacturing tyres and rubber products.
  • In Hydrogen Milestone: UK’s First Hydrogen-to-Power Trial At Brigg Energy Park, I describe how Centrica and HiiROC have generated electricity at Brigg power station.
  • In Cemex To Install World-First Hydrogen Process At UK Cement Plant, I describe how Cemex will use HiiROC to make low-carbon cement at Rugby.

I believe that a large HiiROC electrolyser at Aberdeen could provide enough hydrogen for Aquaventus.

I have some thoughts.

Will Aquaventus Be Using The Albrough And Rough Gas Storage?

I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

Yes, the broader AquaVentus framework is designed to integrate with British transmission networks and link to underground cavern and reservoir storage assets on Humberside, including the Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage site and Rough Gas Storage.

Key Details

AquaVentus Integration: While the primary focus of offshore German pipelines like AquaDuctus is delivering green hydrogen to Germany, the broader AquaVentus network links into UK transmission systems and regional storage options.

Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage: SSE Thermal and Equinor are developing plans to repurpose and expand the underground salt caverns at the Aldbrough site in East Yorkshire to store low-carbon hydrogen.

Rough Gas Storage: Centrica has explored plans to convert the offshore Rough gas storage field in the North Sea for hydrogen storage as part of the wider regional infrastructure development in the Humber area.

The hydrogen can also be distributed to customers on Humberside.

INEOS Are Heavily Involved With Waste-To-Energy Technologies And Biomethane Supply Chains
So could a lot of organic waste along the East coast of Scotland and Northern England end up being converted to biomethane to feed a series of HiiROC electrolysers?
Will The Carbon Black Created By HiiROC Be A Problem?
I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

No, the carbon black created by HiiROC will not be a problem; instead, it is an economically valuable asset and an environmental benefit. Rather than producing gaseous carbon dioxide, HiiROC’s Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) process locks carbon into a stable, solid carbon black co-product.
The solid carbon black generated by this technology is a solution rather than a problem for several key reasons:

1. It Completely Avoids Carbon Dioxide Emissions

In traditional hydrogen production (like steam methane reforming), carbon is released as gas. HiiROC operates a completely oxygen-free plasma system. Because there is no oxygen, carbon dioxide cannot form. The carbon is instantly cooled and solidified into an inert powder, trapping it permanently so it cannot escape into the atmosphere.

2. It Replaces a Highly Polluting Global Industry

Carbon black is already a massive global commodity used heavily in vehicle tires, plastics, inks, and coatings. However, traditional carbon black manufacturing (the oil furnace process) is notoriously dirty and generates severe greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. HiiROC’s product serves as a sustainable, zero-emission alternative for these manufacturing chains.

3. It is Highly Marketable and Versatile

Rather than a waste material that requires disposal, HiiROC’s carbon black is being commercialized for various industrial uses:

Automotive: Tokyo Gas and major tire manufacturers are testing and assessing its use for sustainable tires.

Construction & Infrastructure: It is being integrated into building materials like concrete through partnerships with global companies like Cemex.

Agriculture: It can be safely utilized for soil enhancement.

It sounds like HiiROC should be filed under too good to be true.

Is Research Being Undertaken To Find More Uses For Carbon Black?

I asked Google AI this question and received this answer.

Yes, extensive research is actively underway to find and expand new uses for carbon black, particularly in clean energy, advanced electronics, and sustainable manufacturing.

Emerging & Research-Backed Applications

Lithium-Ion Batteries & Energy Storage: Researchers are optimizing carbon black grades as conductive additives and low-cost alternatives to lithium metal in battery cathodes and anodes, as well as use in fuel cells, supercapacitors, and solar cells.

Electric Vehicles (EVs): Manufacturers are developing specialized, high-conductivity carbon black formulations to improve EV tire durability, lightweight polymers, and high-performance battery systems.

Electromagnetic & Conductive Materials: Research explores carbon black in conductive adhesives, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, antistatic flooring, and radar-absorbent materials.

Green & Circular Production Methods: Scientists are investigating alternative manufacturing pathways—such as methane pyrolysis, turquoise hydrogen co-production, and tyre pyrolysis—to create recovered and circular carbon black (rCB) with a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional fossil-oil burning.

Note.

  1. The HiiROC process is considered turquoise hydrogen co-production.
  2. Tyre pyrolysis recovers valuable carbon black by breaking down end-of-life tires (ELTs) at high temperatures (typically 450°C to 600°C) in an oxygen-free environment.

It seems to me that HiiROC could transform an industry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 23, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Hydrogen | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cummins To Cease New Electrolyser Activity Amid Worsening Market

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Renewables Now.

These are the first three paragraphs.

Cummins Inc has decided to stop new commercial activity in the electrolysers space following a strategic review of the segment launched last year, citing deteriorating market conditions and weakening customer demand.

The decision is linked to USD 458 million (EUR 388.4m) of charges for the full-year 2025 related to the electrolyser business within the company’s zero-emission technologies arm, Accelera, of which USD 415 million were non-cash charges.

The company noted that it will continue to fulfil existing customer commitments before winding down new commercial activity in the segment.

Although, I am in favour of using hydrogen as a fuel, I recognise, that traditional electrolysis is not the most efficient process.

These methods are more efficient.

HiiROC

  • HiiROC use a process, that they call Thermal Plasma Electrolysis to split any hydrocarbon gas into hydrogen and carbon black.
  • HiiROC originated in the University of Hull.
  • Typical gases that can be used are chemical plant off-gas, biomethane and methane.
  • I like the ability to use chemical plant off-gas, as some of this is particularly nasty and HiiROC may offer safe disposal.

But the big advantage is that the HiiROC process is five times more energy efficient than traditional electrolysis.

The carbon black is no useless by-product, but has several valuable uses in its own right, which are detailed in its Wikipedia entry.

These two paragraphs from Wikipedia, give a summary of the more common uses of carbon black.

The most common use (70%) of carbon black is as a reinforcing phase in automobile tires. Carbon black also helps conduct heat away from the tread and belt area of the tire, reducing thermal damage and increasing tire life. Its low cost makes it a common addition to cathodes and anodes and is considered a safe replacement to lithium metal in lithium-ion batteries. About 20% of world production goes into belts, hoses, and other non-tire rubber goods. The remaining 10% use of carbon black comes from pigment in inks, coatings, and plastics, as well as being used as a conductive additive in lithium-ion batteries.

Carbon black is added to polypropylene because it absorbs ultraviolet radiation, which otherwise causes the material to degrade. Carbon black particles are also employed in some radar absorbent materials, in photocopier and laser printer toner, and in other inks and paints. The high tinting strength and stability of carbon black has also provided use in coloring of resins and films. Carbon black has been used in various applications for electronics. A good conductor of electricity, carbon black is used as a filler mixed in plastics, elastomer, films, adhesives, and paints. It is used as an antistatic additive agent in automobile fuel caps and pipes.

It can also be used as a soil improver in agriculture.

HiiROC  would appear to be five times more energy efficient than traditional electrolysis.

I would also rate the range of their investors as a particular strength.

Google AI lists these companies as investors.

HiiROC, a UK-based developer of plasma torch technology for “turquoise” hydrogen production, is backed by a consortium of industrial and strategic investors. Key investors include Centrica, Melrose Industries, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, HydrogenOne Capital, CEMEX Ventures, Wintershall Dea, and VNG.

Note.

  1. CEMEX must be going to decarbonise cement making.
  2. Melrose describe themselves as an industry-leading aerospace technology provider.
  3. Will we be seeing hydrogen cars from Korean manufacturers?
  4. Wintershall Dea is Europe’s leading independent gas and oil company.

HiiROC has an impressive list of investors.

Bloom Energy

I wrote about Bloom Energy’s process in Westinghouse And Bloom Energy To Team Up For Pink Hydrogen.

This method also looks promising.

It uses electrolysis at a higher temperature, which speeds it up.

Desert Bloom

This is an Australian process, that I wrote about in 10GW Green Hydrogen Project Aims To Electrolyze Water Drawn From Desert Air.

Conclusion

You can understand, why Cummins are getting jumpy!

But you have to remember that when I worked in a hydrogen plant in the 1960s, the hydrogen was an unwanted by-product and it was mixed with coal gas and sent down the power station to raise steam, so that it could be used to do something useful.

 

February 6, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Hydrogen | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HiiROC Partners With Siemens To Boost Clean Hydrogen Production

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from HiiROC.

These two bullet points, act as sub-headings.

  • HiiROC and Siemens sign a Memorandum of Understanding to provide advanced control technology and ensure the safe automation of hydrogen production.

  • HiiROC’s Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) process produces clean hydrogen and solid carbon, using significantly less electricity than water electrolysis and without creating carbon dioxide.

These five paragraphs explain the deal.

Clean hydrogen producer HiiROC, has partnered with technology company Siemens on its hydrogen production technology, helping customers to decarbonise their operations and support their Net Zero ambitions.

Under the agreement, HiiROC will leverage Siemens’ control technology and factory and automation expertise to ensure the safe, efficient automation of hydrogen production and support in scaling.

HiiROC’s proprietary Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) technology is designed to meet rising demand for low-cost, scalable solutions for clean hydrogen production at the point of use, which helps to significantly reduce costs by removing the need for specialised storage and transportation.

The TPE process disassembles gaseous hydrocarbons into hydrogen and solid carbon without creating carbon dioxide. This highly efficient process, recognised under the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard, requires only a fifth of the electricity of water electrolysis.

As a key technology partner, Siemens will collaborate with HiiROC to advance product development, while its global developer support community will help in achieving the hydrogen producer’s international expansion goals. Siemens, which has ambitious commitments to decrease carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable society, works with organisations across sectors to decarbonise using technology.

Many chemical processes are all about brute force and very large amounts of energy. This marriage made in chemical heaven, is all about elegance and finesse.

The investors in HiiROC are not without substance and include Melrose Industries, HydrogenOne, Centrica, Hyundai and Kia.

I wrote more about HiiROC and a similar process in Centrica Partners With Hull-Based HiiRoc For Hydrogen Fuel Switch Trial At Humber Power Plant.

November 15, 2024 Posted by | Energy, Hydrogen | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment