ABB and Charbone Hydrogen sign agreement to advance North American green hydrogen production facilities

ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Charbone Hydrogen Corporation, a Montreal-based green hydrogen producer, to collaborate on developing up to 15 modular and scalable green hydrogen production facilities across North America over the next five years. These facilities will supply clean hydrogen to industries such as steelmaking, which currently rely on grey hydrogen.

Under the agreement, ABB will serve as the preferred supplier for designing, engineering, fabricating, testing, and supplying modular electrical substations (eHouses) to connect production facilities with local utilities. Additionally, ABB will support Charbone in standardizing engineering processes and components across its projects to enhance energy efficiency and reliability. Depending on project requirements, ABB may also act as the main automation, electrification, and telecom contractor.

One of the key projects under this collaboration is Charbone’s flagship Sorel-Tracy facility in Québec, Canada, set to connect to the Hydro-Québec grid by Q2 2025. The facility will use hydroelectric power to operate green hydrogen electrolyzers, serving as a model for future developments. The next planned project will be in the greater Detroit area, a major hub for the automotive industry.

“This strategic collaboration with ABB signals our commitment to the North American green hydrogen market,” said Daniel Charette, COO of Charbone Hydrogen Corporation. “With our Sorel-Tracy project advancing rapidly and our modular ‘plug-and-play’ approach enabling production to start within weeks, we are helping industries decarbonize more efficiently.”

The Gouvernement du Québec’s Green Hydrogen and Bioenergy Strategy aims to cut the province’s petroleum consumption by nearly one billion liters annually by 2030, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions by four megatons of CO₂—equivalent to removing 1.2 million gasoline-powered vehicles from the roads.

“Green hydrogen is a crucial element in the transition to a low-carbon future,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “We are proud to support Charbone in scaling green hydrogen production across North America, helping industries accelerate their shift toward cleaner operations.”

As part of the MoU, Charbone will integrate ABB’s Extended Operator Workplace (EOW) system across all its planned facilities. A central Operator Workplace at Charbone’s headquarters will provide 24/7 monitoring to optimize production and minimize downtime. These will be the first EOW installations in North America’s green hydrogen sector.

The demand for hydrogen continues to rise, with global consumption reaching 97 megatons (Mt) in 2023, largely driven by refining and chemical industries. Although low-emissions hydrogen production was below 1 Mt last year, it is expected to reach 49 Mt per year by 2030, based on announced project