Shell has selected Aberdeen-based consulting and engineering giant Wood plc to deliver pre-FEED (pre-front-end engineering and design) services for Oman’s innovative Blue Horizons’ project.
“The project will produce low carbon blue hydrogen and ammonia for local and international markets and will capture and store CO2 from production,” said Wood.
“The pioneering development is expected to be the first large-scale project of its kind in Oman.
“Wood will use its specialist CO2 and blue hydrogen expertise to design the integrated blue hydrogen and ammonia production facility, marine facilities including ammonia storage, 200 kilometre pipeline and CO2 injection facility.”
Giuseppe Zuccaro, President of Process & Chemicals at Wood, said: “The innovative Blue Horizons project will serve as a catalyst to Oman’s adoption of zero-carbon fuels.
“We are delighted to work with Shell to deliver this pre-FEED package, combining our in-country capability and global subject matter expertise to drive progress on this exciting initiative.”
Wood will leverage global teams across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, India and Oman to deliver this contract, which is expected to be completed in 2025.
The Oman contract follows news last month that Wood has played a key role in securing more than €1 billion of funding for its clients in Europe, enabling three major clean energy projects to reach final investment decisions (FID).
In Lithuania, Wood’s team of technical consultants served as Lenders’ Technical Advisors in advancing the nation’s largest onshore wind farm. Wood’s consultants guided the developer Nord/LB, alongside its banking partners KfW IPEX-Bank and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), throughout the pre-finance period.
Set for completion in 2026, this 264-megawatt (MW) plant will power over 270,000 households, slashing carbon emissions by more than 200,000 tonnes per year. Wood continues to lead on project management for the wind farm as construction begins.
Wood’s expertise was also key in facilitating European renewables developer, Renewable Power Capital (RPC), in finalising financing for its 553 MW onshore wind portfolio in Sweden. Made up of four wind farms, the project is set to significantly reduce emissions produced by the country’s industrial sector.
Wood is also acting as owner’s engineer for the Catalina green hydrogen project, a first-of-its-kind project in Spain, which was recently announced as a recipient of the European Hydrogen Bank’s first auction, receiving €230 million in funding. The project will combine 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar energy to power a 500-MW electrolyser to produce green hydrogen.
Azad Hessamodini, Executive President for Consulting at Wood, said: “To profoundly transform and accelerate the diversification of the world’s energy mix, significant capital investment is required.
“Our consultants and technical advisors are skilled at supporting our clients in assessing the critical factors, such as technical and commercial feasibility including market returns, that enable them to reach final investment decisions, and I’m proud of the impact we’re making.”