ABB, a global technology leader, and Canada-based Charbone Hydrogen Corp. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop up to 15 modular and scalable green hydrogen production facilities across North America over the next five years, according to Power.
The partnership aims to provide a clean alternative for industries reliant on grey hydrogen, such as steelmaking, and support the transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Grey hydrogen, derived from fossil fuels like natural gas, is widely used in heavy industry. In contrast, green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy, offering a cleaner alternative. Under the agreement, Charbone, a Montreal-based green hydrogen producer, will collaborate with ABB, which will serve as the preferred supplier for designing, engineering, and delivering modular electrical substations (eHouses) to integrate production facilities with local utilities. ABB will also help standardize engineering processes to enhance energy efficiency and reliability across Charbone’s projects.
The collaboration will begin with Charbone’s flagship Sorel-Tracy facility near Montreal, Québec, which is set to connect to the Hydro-Québec grid by mid-2025. Powered by hydroelectricity, the plant will use electrolyzers to produce green hydrogen and serve as a model for future projects. The next planned facility will be in the greater Detroit area, a key automotive manufacturing hub.
“This partnership with ABB is a significant step forward for our vision in the North American green hydrogen market,” said Daniel Charette, COO of Charbone Hydrogen Corp. “With the Sorel-Tracy project advancing rapidly and our modular approach enabling quick production start-ups, Charbone is well-positioned to support industrial decarbonization.”
Québec’s Green Hydrogen and Bioenergy Strategy promotes the adoption of hydrogen and bioenergy in sectors such as transportation, primary metals, and chemicals. The initiative aims to cut the province’s annual petroleum consumption by nearly one billion liters by 2030, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by four megatons of carbon dioxide—equivalent to removing 1.2 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the road.
“Green hydrogen is a key component of the transition to a low-carbon energy future,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “We are proud to collaborate with Charbone in expanding green hydrogen production across North America, helping industries operate more sustainably.”
As part of the agreement, Charbone will deploy ABB’s Extended Operator Workplace (EOW) system across all planned facilities. The EOW system, the first of its kind in North American green hydrogen plants, will enable 24/7 monitoring from local and remote control centers, enhancing production efficiency and reducing downtime.
Global hydrogen demand reached 97 megatons in 2023, driven primarily by refining and chemical industries. While low-emission hydrogen production accounts for less than one megaton today, it is projected to reach 49 megatons annually by 2030, based on announced projects. The ABB-Charbone partnership represents a significant step toward meeting this growing demand with sustainable solutions.