KBR lands engineering deal for clean hydrogen plant in US mid-Atlantic

U.S. company KBR has been awarded an engineering services contract by compatriot First State Hydrogen to support the feasibility and development of its first clean hydrogen production facility in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region.

KBR said the company will provide engineering services to study the feasibility of developing a clean hydrogen production facility through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, adding that the study is part of First State Hydrogen’s vision to provide clean hydrogen for Delaware and the U.S. mid-Atlantic and help the region meet its sustainability goals.

Jay Ibrahim, President of KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions, stated: “We are excited to be a part of this important project that will contribute toward a cleaner, more sustainable world.“

Dora Cheatham, VP of Sales & Commercialization at First State Hydrogen, commented: “This is an important step for First State Hydrogen as we start laying the groundwork for a clean hydrogen facility that will drive our mission to responsibly and safely advance the clean hydrogen economy and create a more sustainable future. We’re excited to have the KBR team with us on this journey.”

First State Hydrogen aims to innovate in hydrogen production, enabling Delaware to be the first state to draw the majority of its energy from clean, reliable sources, and ultimately providing the company’s hydrogen throughout the mid-Atlantic.

The company’s 60-megawatt pilot project, located in Wilmington, Delaware, will be powered by clean energy and have the capacity to produce 24 metric tons per day of green hydrogen using PEM electrolysers, First State Hydrogen revealed, noting that it chose Delaware as the facility’s location because of access to rail, air and maritime transport among other things.

To remind, in 2024, KBR’s services were also selected by a consortium consisting of Lotte Chemical, Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) and Samsung Engineering. The parties chose KBR’s K-GreeN technology for Lotte Chemical’s green ammonia project, a part of the H2biscus green hydrogen and ammonia project development in Sarawak, Malaysia.

The H2biscus’ green hydrogen plant is expected to have an annual capacity of 150,000 tons and the green ammonia conversion plant an annual capacity of 850,000 tons.