Aukra Hydrogen: Preliminary ESIA and permitting management for Hydrogen production facility with Carbon Capture

Assignment

Norconsult was engaged by Aker Horizons to carry out a preliminary ESIA and define the required permits for the establishment of hydrogen production from natural gas (from the Nyhama plant) with carbon capture at Aukra.

Solution

An ESIA must be carried out to assess the effects the hydrogen plant and associated pipes (hydrogen, CO2 and natural gas) have on the environment and people in the area. In this assignment, Norconsult carried out a preliminary ESIA for the following subjects: biodiversity, cultural heritage, landscape, recreation & outdoor life,
natural resources, pollution (ground, water, air and noise) and greenhouse gases. Building and operating a hydrogen plant in Norway involves a series of permitting processes, which must be conducted by the conducted by the contractor. Norconsult mapped these permitting processes and assessed relevant laws for the establishment of the specific facility,

Result

The results of the preliminary ESIA showed the impact the hydrogen plant can have on the environment, and
which adaptations can be made to safeguard the area's resources and values.

Through the mapping of laws, permits and clarifications that are required to establish the hydrogen plant,
Norconsult identified the linked risks were to the construction and operation of the hydrogen plant, both in terms of execution and time consumption.