Pakistan's coal miner Oracle Power plans to deploy 700 MW solar power, 500 MW wind energy and 450 MW battery energy storage capacity to power its proposed 400 MW green hydrogen plant in the country, according to a preliminary technical study completed by China's PowerChina.
The duo had initially announced the 400 MW project as the country's 1st green hydrogen production facility in October 2021 for which it had entered into a non-exclusive cooperation agreement with PowerChina International Group Ltd (see Green Hydrogen Project In Pakistan).
They have now identified Thatta district of Sindh province as the location to site the project within the vicinity of Gharo-Jhimpir Wind Corridor. The location is approximately 120 km from the sea port and 130 km from Sindh's capital, Karachi. Sindh has high solar energy potential as it experiences more than 300 sunlit days.
With 400 MW capacity, the project is aimed to generate around 150,000 kg green hydrogen daily or 54,750 ton annually with up to 99.999% purity. Oracle says the project aims to drive down the cost of green hydrogen below $2.00 per kg once operational at full capacity. It will be supplied for local use in industry, urea and ammonia manufacturing, transport and power generation, and also exported to other continents.
"The supply of hydrogen to potential buyers appears to be very feasible from Pakistan as it has three world class ports, and customized transport and infrastructure facilities can be built easily," stated the company in an Information Memorandum released about the project.
Total estimated cost of the entire project is expected to be $2 billion out of which the 700 MW solar project will incur investment of $420 million, 500 MW wind energy $600 million and 450 MW battery energy storage another $113 million. The 400 MW green hydrogen production plant alone will cost an estimated $348 million, according to the project partners who are now actively pursuing technology suppliers and assessing costs across Europe, Japan and South Korea to further advance the plan.
"We are making good progress in a short time since signing the Co-Operation Agreement with PowerChina," said Oracle CEO Naheed Memon. "Green hydrogen has been dubbed as the 'fuel of the future' and Oracle is in the exciting position to be a first mover in Pakistan and, at the competitive price that is being targeted, is set to be in a strong position in the international market as well."