By KERRY SMITH

The U.S. Dept. of Energy’s funding of select “hydrogen hubs” across the U.S. is supporting the design, engineering and construction of commercial-scale green hydrogen plants that will supplement the nation’s power grid while contributing no carbon emissions.

DOE has committed to funding $1.25 billion toward U.S.-based projects that are pioneering the generation of green hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels. The hub initiative is specifically focused on plants that will contribute to powering the agriculture and mobility markets. Green hydrogen – which is produced through a process known as electrolysis, a technique that consists of breaking water molecules via an electric current in order to extract the hydrogen – results in a carbon-free energy source.

In agriculture, green hydrogen is used to power generators for farmers’ post-harvest activities such as grain drying and cooling. In the mobility market, green hydrogen is a preferred energy source for powering electric vehicles.

Currently in the U.S., more than 90 percent of hydrogen currently produced comes from natural gas, resulting from carbon emissions. And from the entire U.S. power grid (all energy sources), nearly 61 percent is comprised of fossil fuels. At this time, according to the DOE, renewable sources comprise approximately 22 percent of the U.S. power grid. The DOE’s net-zero goal aims for renewables to produce 44 percent of all U.S. electricity by 2050.

Several signature green hydrogen projects currently in design, engineering and/or construction across the nation include:

• Xcel Energy’s electrolysis-based green hydrogen plant at Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant in Welch, Minn. (expected to come online in early 2024)
• Invenergy’s Sauk Valley, Ill. green hydrogen plant (now operational)
• Plug Power’s Kingsland green hydrogen plant in Camden County, Ga. (designed, engineered and built by S&B Engineers – construction began in Fall 2022 and is just beginning operations)
• Air Products’ (owner and operator) Casa Grande, Ariz.-based green hydrogen plant (opening in February 2024) specifically to supply the EV market
• CF Industries’ $7.5 billion Donaldsonville, La. green hydrogen plant (opening by late 2024) that is located in CF’s existing ammonia production complex