Dr. Tryggvi Þór Herbertsson, Head of Hydrogen Strategy, serves as the chairman of Qair Iceland H2. His vision is to initiate projects with expertise across various fields and to build partnerships in the industry across countries. In an interview with Energy Tech Review Europe, Dr. Herbertsson shared insights into his professional journey in renewable resources and the new developments and challenges within the e-fuel industry.
A Wide Range of Professional Expertise
My professional journey began as an economics professor. This experience led me to a position as CEO of an investment bank in Iceland, where I worked until the financial crisis. Following that, I served as a special economic advisor to the government of Iceland, overseeing banking challenges during the crisis. Afterward, I was elected to the Icelandic Parliament for a four-year term.
Years of expertise enabled me to take on chairman responsibilities for multiple companies. Currently, I serve as the chairman of Qair Iceland H2 and Head of Hydrogen Strategy at Qair Group.
Expanding Roots Globally
We are positioned as an independent power producer, generating power from wind, solar, and hydro sources at approximately 1.4 GW, with a project pipeline totaling around 35 GW. Qair currently operates in 20 countries, including Brazil, Poland, and France. We have also been developing different strategies for producing green molecules. Hydrogen and ammonia will be produced in countries like France, Iceland, and Brazil, marking significant milestones in the energy transition.
“Developing and building renewable projects can be complex. My advice would be to develop a deeper understanding of the industry and start with a well-organized plan to reduce production errors and generate green energy efficiently”
Our first hydrogen production project is being built in France and is set to be commissioned next year. We also operate hydrogen refueling stations in Iceland, including the first commercial hydrogen refueling station in the world, commissioned in 2003.
Our focus is on developing, constructing, and operating power plants and hydrogen projects through strategic initiatives worldwide.
Mitigating Challenges Around Renewable Resources
The industry is facing many difficulties. Planning without careful consideration of project execution makes it difficult to keep pace with proliferating technologies. Solid oxide electrolysis (SOEC) is a promising technology and an efficient method to produce hydrogen for ammonia plants. This process can increase efficiency by 20 to 30 percent and reduce the cost of hydrogen, making it a more viable energy source.
We focus on renewable energy and staying ahead in the industry by generating green electrons. This allows us to undertake energy transition projects at lower costs, benefiting both our clients and shareholders.
Leading the Green Molecule Sector
My first project was to develop wind farms in Iceland, and today, the company is developing over one GW of wind energy in the country. We are also the largest shareholder of Arctic Hydro, where we produce hydroelectricity from a portfolio of small power plants in Iceland.
Currently, my focus is on the Katanes project, an 840 MW renewables-to-hydrogen project producing ammonia. We have secured the land, completed the environmental impact assessment, feasibility study, and conceptual studies, and are now entering the FEED phase, with a pre-FEED stage set to start in the coming weeks. The goal is to reach a final investment decision by the end of next year.
The Key to Success in the Renewable Energy Space
Leaders transitioning into the hydrogen sector face multiple challenges. Developing and building renewable and green molecule projects can be complex. My advice would be to develop a deep understanding of the industry and technology and then begin with a well-organized plan to minimize errors. This is the only way to ensure a successful project.
