Avangrid has submitted green hydrogen project concepts on the US east and west coasts in response to the Department of Energy’s request for information (RfI).
The green hydrogen project concepts are in the states of Connecticut, New York, Maine, Oregon and also on the US Gulf Coast in the south-west.
The DoE’s RfI seeks information from industry, investors, developers, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on potential hydrogen demonstration projects in the United States.
It is part of the DoE’s recently announced Energy Earthshot Initiative to accelerate breakthroughs of more abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy solutions within the decade.
In Oregon Avangrid’s RfI response proposes the colocation of green hydrogen production at Avangrid Renewables’ Klamath cogeneration plant.
The 20MW electrolyser would make the facility a source for fuel flexibility as the combined-cycle natural gas plant balances the intermittency of the energy generated by Avangrid’s 1300MW north-west wind farm fleet.
The electrolyser would enable a 2% blend of green hydrogen into the plant’s fuel supply.
In Connecticut Avangrid’s RfI response proposes constructing a 20MW electrolyser and hydrogen storage facility for its Connecticut gas and electric utilities, potentially powered by renewable energy from offshore wind and supplemented by additional solar or grid-based renewable electricity.
It is estimated the project could produce roughly 2.9 million kg of hydrogen per year.
In New York, in collaboration with local area transportation authorities in Rochester, New York Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) is assessing opportunities to construct a multi-use hydrogen production and distribution facility, which could support a range of hydrogen uses, including transportation applications to meet zero-emissions fleet goals.
In Maine Avangrid’s local subsidiary, Central Maine Power (CMP), has begun exploring how to collaboratively help advance green hydrogen consumption in existing manufacturing processes, for enhanced renewable natural gas production and in transportation applications such as trucking and aviation.
On the Gulf Coast Avangrid Renewables has identified opportunities to support green hydrogen for industrial use.
Potential projects include a large-scale electrolysis project in Corpus Christi, Texas to convert low-cost Texas wind power into green hydrogen and ultimately into green ammonia.
Avangrid CEO Dennis Arriola said: “We believe the time for green hydrogen as a viable clean energy fuel has come.
“Our partners at Iberdrola in Spain and at ScottishPower in the UK are already developing commercial scale green hydrogen projects.
“For example, Iberdrola is building the largest plant producing green hydrogen for industrial use in Europe.
“Avangrid’s access to this global expertise, combined with our US-based partners and supporters, provides us with a unique advantage to help accelerate the commercial production of green hydrogen in the US.”