Entergy Texas and an affiliate of New Fortress Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NFE) recently executed an agreement to collaborate on the development of renewable energy and hydrogen infrastructure. The partnership will help accelerate the green hydrogen economy in Southeast Texas.
As part of the agreement, Entergy Texas will work with NFE to leverage existing transmission infrastructure and construct a new high-side substation and transformer connections on the site of NFE’s 120 megawatt industrial-scale green hydrogen plant near Beaumont, Texas.
Brannen McElmurray, managing director, chief development officer at New Fortress Energy and Eliecer “Eli Viamontes”, president and CEO at Entergy Texas
“New Fortress Energy’s facility is a significant development for Southeast Texas, and Entergy Texas is excited about this partnership,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “This project, in addition to the proposed hydrogen-enabled Orange County Advanced Power Station, points to the continued advancement of the hydrogen industry.”
Expected to be one of the largest of its kind in North America, NFE’s facility will leverage industry-leading proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis technology from Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG) for the production of more than 50 tons per day (TPD) of green hydrogen. With the development of additional supporting infrastructure, the facility will be scalable to nearly 500 megawatts.
The referenced agreement between NFE and Entergy Texas, a non-binding memorandum of understanding, sets forth a framework for NFE and Entergy Texas to collaborate in several other key areas, including (i) development of new renewable generation resources, (ii) commercial offtake of green hydrogen from NFEs facility to Entergy Texas’ Orange County Advanced Power Station and/or other power plants in Entergy Texas’ operating portfolio, and (iii) pipelines and underground hydrogen storage to enhance the green hydrogen value chain and the resilience of power supply to Entergy Texas’ customers in Southeast Texas.
Last year, Entergy Texas filed a request for approval of OCAPS, a 1,215-megawatt, dual-fuel combined cycle power facility that will have the capability to use a combination of natural gas and hydrogen. Electric generation using hydrogen as the fuel source produces zero carbon emissions.
“We are proud to collaborate with Entergy, a leading provider of reliable and sustainable electricity, as we expand our green hydrogen initiatives,” said Wes Edens, Chairman and CEO of New Fortress Energy. “We believe Southeast Texas is an optimal location for our first green hydrogen facility and look forward to delivering scalable solutions to meet the significant needs of industrial customers across the region alongside Entergy and our other partners.”
New Fortress Energy anticipates commencing commercial operations at its first green hydrogen facility as early as 2024. The project is strategically located in proximity to industrial end-users as well as access to reliable power and superior logistics including rail, marine and existing pipelines that span the U.S. Gulf Coast region.
Entergy Texas operates in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator energy market and has reliably served customers in Southeast Texas for decades.
The company plans to invest over $2.5 billion by the end of 2024 to build a cleaner, more resilient, and sustainable energy future for the region.
About Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 486,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,500 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations.
About New Fortress Energy
New Fortress Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NFE) is a global energy infrastructure company founded to help address energy poverty and accelerate the world’s transition to reliable, affordable, and clean energy. The company owns and operates natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, ships, and logistics assets to rapidly deliver turnkey energy solutions to global markets. Collectively, the company’s assets and operations seek to support global energy security, enable economic growth, enhance environmental stewardship, and transform local industries and communities around the world.
