Vallourec and Baker Hughes partner to integrate Delphy hydrogen storage with compression solutions, advancing cost-efficient underground green hydrogen infrastructure.
Vallourec, a global leader in premium seamless tubular solutions, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Baker Hughes to jointly advance underground hydrogen storage technologies for the rapidly expanding green hydrogen market. The agreement marks the beginning of a long-term strategic collaboration aimed at delivering integrated solutions to customers operating across the green hydrogen value chain.
The partnership is designed to strengthen cooperation in order to better support industries transitioning toward low-carbon and sustainable energy systems. Key target sectors include green ammonia production, sustainable fuel manufacturing, and green steel production, as well as clean power applications such as energy supply for data centers. Through this MoU, the companies plan to explore the integration of Vallourec’s Delphy underground hydrogen storage system with Baker Hughes’ advanced compression technologies. By combining their expertise, both organizations intend to optimize the full compression-to-storage process for hydrogen projects.
A central focus of the collaboration will be to refine compression and storage configurations to achieve maximum efficiency. This includes determining optimal operating pressures tailored to specific industrial applications and ensuring that hydrogen can be stored safely and economically. By enhancing system integration and performance, the companies aim to reduce overall project costs, lower total cost of ownership, and improve competitiveness for green hydrogen developers and end-users. The initiative also seeks to streamline plant footprints and improve operational reliability, two critical factors in scaling hydrogen infrastructure globally.
Delphy, Vallourec’s market-ready underground hydrogen storage solution, is engineered to store up to 100 tons of compressed green hydrogen gas in a vertical configuration. The system has been designed to combine high-pressure performance with a minimal surface footprint, offering significant land-use efficiency advantages. Additionally, Delphy prioritizes safety, incorporating advanced engineering standards and materials expertise. The solution has already received certification from internationally recognized bodies, including Bureau Veritas and DNV, underscoring its compliance with rigorous industry standards.
Baker Hughes brings to the partnership its extensive experience in compression technologies, a crucial component in the hydrogen value chain. Efficient compression is essential before hydrogen can be stored underground at high pressures. Baker Hughes’ solutions are known for enhancing overall plant efficiency and reducing infrastructure footprint, making them well-suited for integration with Delphy. Together, the companies aim to offer a comprehensive solution that addresses both the technical and economic challenges of large-scale hydrogen storage.
Philippe Guillemot, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vallourec, emphasized that the partnership reflects the complementary strengths of both organizations. He highlighted Baker Hughes’ leadership in compression technologies and described compression as a critical step prior to hydrogen storage. Guillemot noted that the collaboration reinforces Vallourec’s broader strategy of building strong partnerships across the hydrogen value chain. He also reiterated the company’s commitment to enabling the large-scale deployment of green hydrogen as a key driver of industrial decarbonization.
