Elixir Energy, Softbank Energy sign hydrogen MoU
Sydney-listed Elixir Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SoftBank Energy (SB Energy), a unit of Japan’s Softbank Group, on a framework to cooperate on the research and development of a green hydrogen production project in the Gobi desert of Mongolia, they said on June 20.
SB Energy and Elixir intend to proceed with certain pre-feasibility studies in order to first realise a small-scale pilot project with the eventual goal of jointly developing a gigawatt-class green hydrogen production project.
Elixir owns the Nomgon IX coalbed methane project, which is located in the South Gobi region of Mongolia and considers potential synergies between its strategy of exploring natural gas and green hydrogen production-related opportunities.
SB Energy operates a wind power plant generating 50 MW in the Gobi desert through a joint venture established in Mongolia and wishes to explore the possibility of utilising renewable energy resources in Mongolia to develop green hydrogen energy.
The parties will cooperate to complement each other in order to jointly develop and achieve commercialisation of the project utilising their respective strengths, they said. The development of this project would mark the first entry by SB Energy into the green hydrogen business