New York “H2Hub” consortium grows to more than 60 members

(Albany / USA) – Eight billion dollars is no small feat. The US Department of Energy (DOE) wants to invest this much money over a period of five years until 2026 to build regional hydrogen networks, called “H2Hub”. As reported, the aim is to bring producers and consumers together and to create local infrastructure to accelerate the use of the energy source.

Competitors work together

Such sums suddenly spur even competitors to pull together, as a consortium in the US state of New York shows: Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that the states of Maine and Rhode Island are joining a consortium of New York, Connecticut, New York Jersey and Massachusetts have joined to designate one of at least four regional clean hydrogen hubs under the federal program and apply jointly for funding.

The proposed hydrogen centers are based on the agreement signed by US President Joseph R. Biden last November Infrastructure Act (“Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act”, also known as “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law”, BIL). This is an essential part of Biden's plan to decarbonize the industrial sector,

Consortia preferred

In order to access the federal funds, a number of rules apply: At least one hub is required for the use of clean hydrogen in electricity generation, one for the industrial sector, one hub in the heating sector for private households and businesses and one hub for the transport sector.

Each center must be located in a different region of the United States and utilize energy resources that are abundant there. And at least two hubs must be located in regions of the United States that have the largest natural gas resources. Preference is given to developers who bring together numerous partners and different technologies under the umbrella of a central project management.

Companies and authorities are pulling in the same direction

The coalition, which now consists of six federal states, is apparently on the right track: What initially consisted of 40 has now become more than 60 partners, covering the entire value chain for clean hydrogen. Since the initial announcement in March, New York has convinced five other states to join its plans, as well as 14 private sector companies, 20 utilities, XNUMX hydrogen technology OEMs, XNUMX universities, seven nonprofits and two transportation companies.

In addition to local facilities, the recently announced new additions include international companies such as Air Liquide, EDP Renewables North America, Equinor, General Electric Co., Hyzon Motors Inc., Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc., Linde plc, Nel Hydrogen ASA and Ørsted AS, to name just a few.

All want to propose clean hydrogen projects throughout the region, funded by the DOE, together with the three authorities New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Empire State Development (ESD). can.

And the number of interested parties could grow: “New York will continue to engage with states and entities to solidify the region as a viable clean hydrogen hub,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.

“Clean” hydrogen does not only come from renewable electricity

The downer: In North America – unlike in Europe – hydrogen is not only considered “clean” when it is produced using renewable energies such as wind power, hydropower and photovoltaics. The production of the energy source from natural gas with CO2 capture and electricity from nuclear energy is also “clean” by definition and contributes to decarbonization.

Photo above
Government building of the US state of New York in its capital Albany. © Office of General Services, NY