埃克森美孚暂停贝敦低碳氢项目

Core Viewpoint - ExxonMobil has paused its flagship low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia integrated production project at the Baytown refinery in Texas due to unmet market demand, reflecting broader challenges in the global low-carbon hydrogen industry [1] Group 1: Project Details - The Baytown project was initially positioned as the "world's largest low-carbon hydrogen project," with a planned daily production of 1 billion cubic feet of low-carbon hydrogen and an annual output of over 1 million tons of low-carbon ammonia [1] - The project had already seen a $500 million initial investment from its partners, with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company holding a 35% stake [1] Group 2: Industry Challenges - Multiple key hydrogen projects have been shelved, attributed to weakened support for clean energy in the U.S. and uncertainties surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act's 45V hydrogen tax credit, which faces potential revocation risks due to the advancement of the "Big and Beautiful Act" [1] - Brian Murphy, head of hydrogen research at S&P Global, noted that the project's large capacity made it challenging from the outset, compounded by policy fluctuations in the U.S., Europe, and the International Maritime Organization, which hinder long-term purchase agreements and financing conditions [1] - The 45V clause's final regulations impose strict standards on carbon emissions intensity, making it nearly impossible for the Baytown project's "natural gas hydrogen + carbon capture" model to qualify for the maximum credit of $3 per kilogram [1] Group 3: Market Economics - Platts Energy Information assessed that the offshore price for ammonia exports in the U.S. Gulf Coast is $600 per ton, indicating that market conditions do not support the project's economic viability [1] - The suspension of the Baytown project highlights a common dilemma faced by the global low-carbon hydrogen industry, characterized by policy uncertainty, high technology costs, and insufficient market demand [1]