FRENCH GUIANA: 1st multi-megawatt hydrogen power plant in the world

Rubis is involved in the construction of the world’s first multi-megawatt hydrogen plant.

September 2021

This project embodies Rubis’ strategy to develop sustainable and decarbonised energy projects by entering into the production of non-intermittent renewable electricity.

SARA (Société Anonyme de la Raffinerie des Antilles, Groupe Rubis) and its partners Meridiam and Hydrogène de France (HDF) are launching the construction of the Centrale électrique de l’Ouest Guyanais (CEOG). This project, installed in the municipality of Mana, is currently the world’s first multi-megawatt hydrogen power plant as well as the world’s largest project for the storage of intermittent renewable ene rgies via hydrogen (128 MW h of stored energy). CEOG heralds the future of renewable energies by eliminating their intermittency through industrial-scale storage.

This innovative plant will produce 100% renewable electricity, from the sun and water, to supply the equivalent of 10,000 households in western Guyana 24 hours a day throughout the year, at a lower cost than the territory’s diesel plants. CEOG will prevent the combustion of 12 million litres of diesel per year and the emission of 39,000 tonnes of CO2 per year compared with an equivalent thermal power plant [1]. Operating completely autonomously, CEOG will also make it possible to secure the electricity supply to the Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni basin in the event of failure or maintenance of the electricity network.

The plant will provide stable electricity without emitting greenhouse gases, fine particles, noise or smoke. The solution developed by HDF, called Renewstable (R), will make it possible to produce locally electricity that is consumed locally.

This electricity will be provided by the combination of a photovoltaic power plant and long-term and massive energy storage in the form of hydrogen, coupled with short-term battery storage. It will be injected into the Guyanese electricity network and its production will be governed by a 25-year capacity contract with EDF.

Construction starts this autumn and commissioning is scheduled for April 2024. It will generate turnover of around €17 million for local companies. During its 25 years of operation, CEOG will create sustainable and qualified jobs in western Guyana, in addition to those created during its construction. CEOG is 60% owned by Meridiam, 30% by SARA (Rubis Group) and 10% by HDF. French manufacturers McPhy and HDF will supply electrolysers and fuel cells respectively. The Franco-German consortium Siemens Energy SAS / Siemens Ebergy Global Gmbh  &  Co KG will be the manufacturer and operator of CEOG.