AVANGRID, Inc. has submitted multiple responses as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Request for Information (RFI) on ways to enable low-cost clean hydrogen at scale, outlining green hydrogen concepts for Connecticut, New York, Maine, Oregon, and the Gulf Coast.
"We believe the time for green hydrogen as a viable clean energy fuel has come," said Dennis V. Arriola, AVANGRID CEO. "Our partners at Iberdrola in Spain and at ScottishPower in the United Kingdom 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 U.S.-based partners and supporters, provides us with a unique advantage to help accelerate the commercial production of green hydrogen in the United States."
Multiple project concepts submitted by AVANGRID as part of the RFI are outlined below.
Connecticut: Electrolyzer and Hydrogen Storage
One of AVANGRID's RFI responses proposes constructing a 20-MW electrolyzer 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, yielding an annual emissions reduction of approximately 25,000 tons of CO2 and potentially creating 400 to 800 jobs in economically disadvantaged communities.
New York: Utilizing Hydrogen for Transportation in Rochester
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.
Maine: Exploring Hydrogen for Multiple Applications
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.
Gulf Coast: Leveraging Avangrid Renewables Wind Generation to Develop Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia
Representing its nationwide presence and leading renewables fleet, Avangrid Renewables has additionally identified opportunities to support green hydrogen for industrial use on the Gulf Coast and provide cleaner solutions that strengthen the United State's domestic energy leadership.
For instance, a large-scale electrolysis project in Corpus Christi, Texas, would convert low-cost Texas wind power into green hydrogen and ultimately into green ammonia. The ambitious commercial-scale project demonstrates the scalability of the technology, its path to cost-competitiveness, and green hydrogen's value as an important component in an economywide clean energy transition.
Oregon: Leveraging Klamath Cogeneration Plant for Hydrogen Production
In Oregon, AVANGRID's RFI response proposes the colocation of green hydrogen production at Avangrid Renewables' Klamath Cogeneration Plant. The intent would be to 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 1300-MW Northwest wind farm fleet. The proposed project would include a ~20-MW electrolyzer to enable a 2% blend of green hydrogen into the plant's fuel supply. This project has the potential to generate 3000 metric tons of green hydrogen annually.
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.
