Trinidad and Tobago hydrogen research collaborative launched

The Trinidad and Tobago Hydrogen Research Collaborative is to investigate how to incorporate green hydrogen into the country’s energy mix.

The research initiative launched by the local green energy development company Kenesjay Green is aimed to establish Trinidad and Tobago as a regional leader in the adoption of green hydrogen.

Goals include stimulating research and development to removing barriers to the adoption of green hydrogen and the expansion of renewable energy as part of the energy mix and promoting the advantages of the growth of green hydrogen industries to economic development and job creation.

Proposed areas of focus include solar and wind power generation, carbon capture, energy efficiency, the greening of local industrial plants and the electrolysis process.

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Other activities indicated include support for policy making, definition of a local hydrogen value chain and identification of green jobs in a future hydrogen economy.

“[The Collaborative is] an initiative that will harness the intellectual prowess of our country and our region’s intellectual capital from private sector, public sector and tertiary institutions,” commented Philip Julien, Chairman of Kenesjay Green at its launch.

Momentum has been gathering for the development of green hydrogen in Trinidad and Tobago, building it on its long standing ammonia production industry, and it is the first and so far only Caribbean nation to pursue a green hydrogen agenda.

The H2RC collaborative will target tertiary level students, researchers and others with the hope of transforming the curriculum and professional development for green industry development.

Partners to date include the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the West Indies.

Kenesjay Green has committed with the Collaborative to completing a wind assessment study for Trinidad and Tobago.

Kenesjay Green’s first major project, NewGen, is centred on the development of an industrial-scale green hydrogen plant for supply to the Tringen Ammonia Facility in Point Lisas. A feasibility study was completed in 2020 and further studies are now underway with the goal to reach a financial investment decision in Q1 2022.

At a national level, Prime Minister Keith Rowley has indicated that the government is exploring the feasibility and regulatory aspects of a hydrogen economy in Trinidad and Tobago and a framework is under development.