Hexagon Composites subsidiaries announce new CNG, hydrogen orders and agreements

Hexagon Composites (Ålesund, Norway) subsidiaries Hexagon Purus and Hexagon Agility develop battery and hydrogen-based systems, and compressed natural gas (CNG) solutions, respectively. Both companies have recently reported new cooperations and supply agreements.

On Nov. 2, Hexagon Agility received a new order from Super Natural Gas Ltd., wholly owned by Supergas Energy (Israel) and a full-service provider of CNG, to deliver Mobile Pipeline modules to transport clean natural gas to Supergas customers. The order has an estimated value of €4.8 million (approx. NOK 48 million), with the modules expected to be delivered in Q2 2023. CNG, a market that uses the same Type IV carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) tanks as hydrogen, remains a key market.

“Today, our fleet is 100% comprised of X-Store modules by Hexagon Agility because of their performance and reliability. X-Store modules have allowed us to become the market leader in mobile gas distribution, serving our industrial customers and also providing mobile fueling for transportation,” Chen Melamed, CEO of Supergas Energy, says. “We are making significant investments to become a leading multi-disciplinary energy supplier and Hexagon Agility is an important partner in this strategic endeavor.”

Hexagon Agility offers a comprehensive Mobile Pipeline portfolio. Along with Titan products sold globally, X-Store is designed specifically to meet UN standards employed in Europe and other ADR countries like Israel. More than 1,800 Mobile Pipeline modules have been deployed globally.

The discovery of the Leviathon and Tamar gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Israel present the opportunity for the nation state to become energy independent. Mobile Pipeline enables energy-based industries to adopt natural gas to reduce energy costs while addressing sustainability goals. Israel’s gas reserves are said to easily exceed the country’s energy consumption, position it to become net exporter of gas to Europe and the Middle East.

Hydrogen systems supplier Hexagon Purus, and Lhyfe (Nante, France) a green and renewable hydrogen producer, entered into a commercial cooperation for delivery of Hexagon Purus’ Type IV composite hydrogen distribution systems. As a result, Lhyfe will be able to deliver a maximum of 19 tons of green hydrogen per trip, corresponding to the consumption of 650 transit buses.

According to Antoine Hamon, director of operations at Lhyfe, “The conclusion of this important cooperation with an industry leader such as Hexagon Purus allows us to secure our logistics capacity, and to meet the needs of our rapid development across Europe.” Michael Kleschinski, EVP of Hexagon Purus, notes that the company’s high-pressure cylinders are the preferred technology for bulk distribution of compressed hydrogen.

Lhyfe counts among its strategic investors made by Mitsui & Co. Ltd. which is also a shareholder and strategic alliance partner of Hexagon Purus. As a common strategic partner, Mitsui has played an important facilitating role in this agreement and has helped accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen in Europe.

Hexagon Purus has also entered into a four-year supply agreement with CaetanoBus (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal) as a preferred supplier of hydrogen fuel systems for serially produced fuel-cell transit buses. Hexagon Purus is already a supplier to CaetanoBus and has delivered several hydrogen fuel systems. This agreement further formalizes and cements the relationship between the two partners.

The hydrogen fuel systems will be supplied from Hexagon Purus’ facility in Kassel, Germany. The estimated potential value over the lifetime of the frame agreement is approximately €35 million (approximately NOK 350 million).   

“CaetanoBus works to provide safer and greener solutions based on our product experience, advanced technology and passion for transporting people worldwide,” says Patricia Vasconcelos, CEO of CaetanoBus. “We are happy to have Hexagon Purus onboard the team as a reliable partner and supplier of hydrogen fuel storage systems for serial production of our fuel-cell transit buses.”