US power company SJI is collaborating with Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind on a green hydrogen pilot programme.
The project will research, monitor, and analyse the deployment of hydrogen technology and natural gas blending in New Jersey.
Atlantic Shores is pursuing the development of a portfolio of offshore wind sites off New Jersey’s Atlantic and Ocean County coasts.
SJI and Atlantic Shores have entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore utilizing the excess electricity generated from the wind projects to create green hydrogen.
Under the agreement, SJI will provide expertise in natural gas blending process and access to its infrastructure to successfully operate the pilot.
SJI president and chief executive officer Mike Renna said: “Through the proposed green hydrogen pilot program, we look forward to helping our region realise the full value chain of offshore wind by multiplying the clean energy impact through hydrogen blending in our natural gas system.
“This project will further our strategy of pursuing decarbonization initiatives to advance our renewable energy goals and will add to our track record of successful clean energy endeavours such as advanced energy efficiency offerings, methane leak reduction investments and our conservation incentive program (CIP).”
Atlantic Shores commercial director Joris Veldhoven added: “Our team at Atlantic Shores is very excited to partner with New Jersey’s SJI on this innovative project.
“Our pilot project will be an important steppingstone to enable a wider application of green hydrogen in New Jersey and will expand opportunities for research and academic collaborations, such as Atlantic Shores’ collaboration with the Laboratory for Energy Smart Systems (LESS) program at Rutgers University, and serve to anchor more green innovation in the State.”
The Atlantic Shores/SJI partnership expands SJI’s pipeline of renewable energy related projects and efforts in 2020, including the establishment of a clean energy and sustainability team, responsible for the development, execution and oversight of all clean energy and sustainability initiatives for the organisation.
It has also formed of a renewable energy joint venture to manage a state-of-the-art fuel cell project and investments in renewable natural gas (RNG) and solar installations.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is a partnership between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF Renewables North America.