One year ago, NewGen Energy Limited (NewGen) was publicly launched at the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference, hosted by the Energy Chamber of T&T. NewGen, headed by Philip Julien, promises to be the first hydrogen production facility in Trinidad and the first green field facility in Pt Lisas in many years.
Since then, the company has gained significant momentum, and has been riding the wave of interest in hydrogen production around the world. In June 2020, during the Energy Chamber’s Energy Efficiency and Renewables Conference, NewGen announced that they were securing seed funding from local investors. This led to the subsequent award and completion of a detailed bankable feasibility study which was carried out by IO Consulting. IO’s parent companies, Baker Hughes and McDermott have long been involved in the energy sector in T&T.
According to Julien, the study not only confirmed the technical viability of the project, but it also defined a band of capital expenditure and operational cost window that is achievable. He added that “All the pieces are there to allow us to proceed at pace with the project. We will award Pre-FEED work in the next few months and, on the back of that, we intend to move into FEED in the second half of the year.
Julien also indicated that as a result of the feasibility study they were currently engaging with the top tiers of electrolyzer suppliers in the world. He said that “The level of attention that the electrolyzer suppliers are placing on the T&T market is very telling – there is genuine interest”.
NewGen already has a MOU with Tringen in relation to securing their off-take of the hydrogen from NewGen. This opens up the possibility of producing carbon neutral and green ammonia. The nameplate hydrogen off-take supply capability is in the order of approximately 27,000 metric tonnes per year.
Acknowledging that while there remained a number of items to be fully lined up, such as finalizing financing arrangements, Julien still believes that the production of carbon neutral and green hydrogen from NewGen can begin in 2024.
Julien also indicated that everything that NewGen does will be aspiring to be ‘green’ (low carbon) in nature. As such he said that NewGen will be encouraging local service providers in the supply chain to start giving some thought as to how they would green their offering for the project. “The intent is for NewGen’s entire project lifecycle - from concept to construction and operation - will be green in its make up.”
Kenesjay Systems, NewGen’s founding company has established a new affiliate company called Kenesjay Green Ltd (www.kenesjaygreen. com) according to Julien. He said the new company will be focused on transforming and decarbonizing existing industrial facilities. The new company will seek to optimize make up and operation of those facilities to embrace and be part of the energy transition.
Julien said that “Kenesjay Green will be in service of helping the country, region and the world to transition into this greener space, either through the greening of brownfield projects or the enhancing of greenfield projects. We will do this in a partnership approach with the local public and private sector as appropriate.”
Julien said that NewGen is “Project One” of a portfolio of projects that are being developed by Kenesjay Green to support the green agenda, and that NewGen is locally owned by Kenesjay Green. Julien committed to providing more details about Kenesjay Green at the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference 2021 being hosted by the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago later this year in June.
Speaking at the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Conference 2021, NewGen Managing Director, Philip Julien announced a new partnership with Fisterra Energy and Kenesjay Green to pursue the development of the NewGen project.
Headquartered in Spain, Fisterra brings over 20 years of technical expertise in successfully developing, constructing, and operating over 30GW of conventional and renewable energy projects in Europe and Latin America. Fisterra is a portfolio company of funds managed by Blackstone Energy Partners, a part of the global investment firm, Blackstone.
In a press release, Fisterra indicated that over the coming months, the companies will work together to finalise the technical and commercial arrangements for the carbon neutral & green hydrogen plant to be located at Tringen’s ammonia facilities. Upon successful execution of the project agreements, the parties currently anticipate first hydrogen production by December 2023.
Addressing the new partnership, Pedro Barriuso, Fisterra’s CEO said, “Fisterra believes that the NewGen project offers an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the viability of Hydrogen as a key contributor to solutions in global energy transition. We are confident that Trinidad and Tobago’s long pioneering legacy in hydrocarbon-based industrialisation offers the necessary capabilities and enabling conditions to make this project a success. Kenesjay Green’s deep understanding of the local business context and natural gas energy experience will complement our own significant expertise in managing and financing large scale power projects.”
Philip Julien, Chairman of Kenesjay Green Limited and Managing Director of NewGen, recognised the involvement of Fisterra as an important achievement, stating that, “the interest of a global investor such as Fisterra affirms our belief in hydrogen’s role in the decarbonisation of the energy mix. Partnering with Fisterra allows us to further deliver on our objective of maintaining Trinidad & Tobago’s competitiveness in the Petrochemical Sector while reducing our global carbon footprint. With Tringen identified as our first intended customer in Point Lisas, the onboarding of this high-quality investor with experience in renewable projects reinforces our ability to bring the NewGen project to fruition on schedule. This partnership is further proof that the local energy sector remains fertile ground for world leading investments and serves the national efforts at reducing carbon emissions.”