Texas is known for its oil and gas industry, one of the most prominent in the world. While Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has set his goals for 2023 to build more natural gas facilities, Texas will also be getting several massive renewable energy facilities.
The companies listed are global companies and they are focused on renewable energy, and transitioning energy using innovative technologies. Different companies are partnering to bring together construction, technology, and operators.
Air Products and AES, both US companies, are building a $4 billion dollar hydrogen facility up in North Texas’ Wilbarger County and it will be the largest in the United States. “With the announcement of this groundbreaking facility by Air Products and AES, the State of Texas will extend its leadership in U.S. energy production and help meet our country’s energy needs for decades to come,” said Governor Abbott. “This project will not only bring hundreds of jobs and millions in revenue to the Lone Star State but will also expand our state’s robust energy sector and further solidify Texas as a global powerhouse in this critical industry. I thank Air Products and AES for choosing Texas, and I look forward to working alongside the two companies and local leaders as we keep Texas a global energy leader,” said Governor Abbott. According to the Governor and company press releases, the project is expected to create:
- 1,300 construction jobs
- 115 permanent operations jobs
- 200 transportation and distribution jobs.
- $500 million in total tax revenue
- 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar power generation
- 200 metric tons per day (MT/D) of green hydrogen,
“Over the project lifetime, it is expected to avoid more than 50 million metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of avoiding emissions from nearly five billion gallons of diesel fuel,” according to AES.
Bechtel is not only building a hydrogen facility but a solar facility as well in Fort Bend County, Texas. Turkey-based Sabanci Renewables, Inc. will be running the facility after completion. “The solar energy generated at Cutlass Solar Two will connect to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ Houston Zone, providing enough electricity to power approximately 40,000 homes with zero-carbon electricity, saving 600,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year,” said Bechtel in a press release.
Additionally, an eFuel Facility is going to be built in Matagorda, Texas. eFuels are carbon-neutral gasoline that still works for today’s vehicles without modifications. HIF USA is located in Houston, leading the initiative to create the facility. They are working with Bechtel, a Houston construction and engineering company; Siemens, a global engineering and energy company focused on transforming global energy; and Topsoe, a Dutch company working on renewable technology and solutions.
The companies will combine forces to construct and develop the facility that will utilize technologies of CO2 capturing, green hydrogen, and methanol. “HIF USA expects to produce approximately 200 million gallons (750 million liters) per year of carbon-neutral gasoline by 2027, with the potential to decarbonize over 400,000 vehicles,” according to Bechtel’s press release of the project. “ HIF USA estimates creating approximately 4,500 direct jobs during the construction phase, which is expected to begin 1Q2024, and more than 100 permanent operating jobs.”
The third major renewable energy facility is a 1 billion dollar Blue Ammonia Site in Beaumont, Texas. OCI N.V. is a hydrogen-producing company that is building the project. The “new facility will support around 60-80 new full-time jobs, as well as around 1,000 construction jobs at the peak of site construction for the OCI scope,” according to Businesswire. They are hoping to be up and running by 2025. It is also expected to be the largest blue ammonia site in the United States. This facility will focus on carbon capture and utilizing the hydrogen derived from natural gas.