Texas LNG Taps ABB for Automation, Electrical Equipment

Texas LNG is working with ABB to collaborate on core automation and electrical equipment for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal to be built in the Port of Brownsville, Texas.

As part of the memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies, Texas LNG and ABB have agreed on a framework for ABB to invest in the project, Texas LNG said in a recent news release. The Glenfarne Energy Transition LLC subsidiary projects the Brownsville terminal to have a capacity of four million metric tons of LNG per annum.

Combined with Texas LNG’s equipment and partnership agreement with Baker Hughes announced in November, Glenfarne has announced more than half a billion dollars’ worth of equipment selections for Texas LNG to date, according to the release.

“Texas LNG’s mission to be one of the lowest-emitting LNG export terminals on the planet requires the sector’s top expertise and innovation”, Glenfarne Energy Transition CEO and Founder Brendan Duval said. “By partnering with ABB, we’re confident that Texas LNG will be the most efficient and environmentally sensitive U.S. LNG facility”.

“ABB’s integrated offering of automation, electrical and digital solutions uniquely help minimize CAPEX and maximize the performance, production and plant availability of LNG and clean fuel projects”, ABB Energy Industries President Brandon Spencer said. “We look forward to collaborating with Texas LNG to explore how technological advances can help enhance LNG production, given the vital role LNG can play in global energy security”.

Texas LNG will close its project financing in 2024 with construction starting shortly after. An equipment order is expected to be granted together with the financial close of the project. The company expects the first LNG exports from the facility to be shipped in late 2027 or early 2028.

Texas LNG in November selected Baker Hughes to supply gas compression technology equipment, including electric motor drives, to the facility. As part of the partnership between the two companies, Baker Hughes also has a framework agreement to make a strategic pre-final investment decision (FID) investment in the project’s late-stage development, Texas LNG said.

Glenfarne Energy Transition, LLC is a subsidiary of Glenfarne Group, LLC, a privately held energy and infrastructure development and management firm based in New York City and Houston, Texas.

ABB Chosen for Rio Grande LNG Phase 1

Meanwhile, ABB has been awarded an order by Bechtel Energy Inc. to deliver integrated automation, electrical and digital solutions for Phase 1 of the Rio Grande LNG facility (RGLNG Phase 1) in Brownsville, Texas, a project developed by NextDecade Corporation. Bechtel Energy Inc. is undertaking construction of RGLNG Phase 1 under an engineering, procurement, and construction contract, ABB said in a separate news release.

RGLNG Phase 1 includes three liquefaction trains and supporting infrastructure, and was the largest greenfield project financing in U.S. history, according to NextDecade. When fully operational, Phase 1 of the facility is expected to produce 17.6 million tons per annum of LNG.

“Innovation and collaboration are helping address the energy trilemma of providing affordable, accessible and sustainable energy for all”, Spencer said. “ABB technology will automate, electrify and digitalize the Rio Grande project, which will further boost global LNG exports and play a vital role in achieving global energy security”.

RGLNG Phase 1 will utilize ABB products and services to ensure the safe and efficient operation of its LNG production. Automation control systems, digital electrification components and industrial drives will enable RGLNG Phase 1 to optimize production assets, increase energy efficiency and operate more sustainably, ABB said.

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