Mitsubishi kicks off operations on world’s first hydrogen validation facility: Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries began full-scale operations on the world’s first fully fledged hydrogen certification facility, according to a company statement out on Wednesday. The validation body — named Takasago Hydrogen Park — aims to certify equipment validation of hydrogen production and power generation technologies, as well as ensure full hydrogen reliance for gas turbines. The park will also support the expansion of the hydrogen sector with the introduction of new low-carbon fuel generation technologies, the company notes. Hydrogen certification aside, the park also brought online the world’s largest alkaline electrolyzer plant in Hyogo Prefecture in west central Japan, which boasts a 1.1k normal cubic meter per hour capacity (Nm3/h), equivalent to 100 kg of pure pressurized hydrogen production volume per hour. The green fuels the plant will produce will be stored at the park’s 39k Nm3 hydrogen depot. The hydrogen the company produces will be verified as 100% renewables powered at Mitsubishi’s T-Point combined cycle power plant facility using the company’s 450 MW Power Jac gas turbine, with plans to validate hydrogen co-firing at the facility by the end of 2023, and later validating 100% of hydrogen firing of its H-25 gas turbine by next year.

More hydrogen certification facilities to come: Mitsubishi Power is also developing solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzers, and turquoise-hydrogen production tech with no carbon generation owing to methane decomposition operations that transform the gas into hydrogen and solid carbon, according to the statement. “The company plans to conduct verification and validation in these areas sequentially. After developing these fundamental technologies for products based on its proprietary technologies at the Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park, Mitsubishi Power plans to carry out hydrogen production validation of these technologies at the Takasago Hydrogen Park with the aim of achieving commercialization,” the company said.

Exxon steers toward carbon capture and away from EV charging: ExxonMobil is developing direct air capture (DAC) technologies in its plans for a net-zero future, Senior VP of Exxon’s Low Carbon Solutions Matthew Crocker tells Reuters. The oil company will not invest in EV charging stations as “it’s not an area in which the company can bring significant competitive advantage,” Crocker said. DAC “would link very closely to our [carbon capture and storage] business where we are going to have large geologic storage and the capability to capture CO2,” he added. Exxon’s energy transition focuses on reducing CO2 emissions, hydrogen, and biofuels rather than investing in renewables. CCS and reducing emissions account for Exxon's USD 17 bn low-carbon business through 2022-2027. The company has been working with renewables experts like FuelCell Energy to develop its carbon capture program.

Kenya and Britain’s GBM ink agreement for construction of USD 3 bn dam: Kenya has signed a project development agreement with British construction firm GBM to carry out a feasibility study for the construction of a USD 3 bn dam with the potential to generate up to 1 GW of electricity, according to a National Irrigation Authority statement. The agreement gives GBM permission to set up bases and begin preparations at the project site, and comes ahead of the signing of a final contract, as well as financial close and concession agreements. The dam will be constructed under a public-private partnership.

Project profile: Upon completion, the mega dam, dubbed High Grand Falls, is expected to be the second largest in Africa, with its reservoir covering over 165 sq km with a water volume of about 5.6 bn cbm to irrigate 400k acres of land, the authority said.

IFC secures USD 3.5 bn from 13 ins. providers to expand development finance: The International Finance Corporation (IFC) inked a USD 3.5 bn credit ins. policy with 13 global ins. companies under its Managed Co-lending Portfolio Program (MCPP), the IFC in a statement on Thursday. The policy will help IFC increase access to finance for MSMEs, including women owned businesses as well as climate-friendly firms in emerging markets across the world.

OTHER STORIES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THIS MORNING-

• ADB and KEITI to team up on low-carbon, climate-resilient tech: The African Development Bank (ADB) and the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITTI) are dedicating USD 13 bn to support investment in low-carbon and climate-resilient technologies in a number of African countries. (Statement)
• UK minister defends gov’t approach to net zero: The UK is taking a “pragmatic and proportional approach” to facing climate change without impacting British citizens’ income, British Interior Minister Suella Braverman said, while denying claims that the government is not fulfilling its net zero commitments. (The Guardian)
• US’ EPA invites bids for USD 4.6 bn grants to help lower greenhouse gas emissions: The US’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering USD 4.6 bn-worth of grants — funded through US President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act — to governments across the country to finance climate action projects. (Reuters)