Top 5 Upcoming Us Green Hydrogen Projects To Watch In 2024

In the constant rat race to find the best clean energy solution, green hydrogen has become a game changer. It is considered a key element in reducing carbon emissions.

Increasing concerns of the environment have put it under the spotlight though the concept of green hydrogen is not new. The U.S. is one of the prominent countries that has started investing huge sums of money in the production of green hydrogen. Several companies in the country are conducting in-depth research and development activities to transform the energy landscape.

Green Hydrogen Finds Numerous Applications from Low-emission Buses to Ammonia Production

Key players in the U.S. have gradually recognized the potential and versatility of green hydrogen to decarbonize multiple areas. In the transportation industry, for instance, it is mainly being used in ships, trains, trucks, and buses. It is leading to the emission of only water vapor from these vehicles, thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption.

The aviation industry, on the other hand has started investigating the features of green hydrogen. It aims to use it as a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Research work is underway to better understand the concept of low carbon emissions due to air travel. The introduction of hydrogen-powered aircraft is inevitable in the near future.

Another area of application is industrial processes. Researchers are striving to find a way how green hydrogen can contribute to steel manufacturing. The emergence of the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) process has changed the way hydrogen was used. It now acts as a reducing agent that helps transform iron ore into steel, thereby reducing carbon emissions. At the same time, it is being utilized in the production of methanol and green ammonia that are considered essential fertilizers.

Top 5 Upcoming Green Hydrogen Projects in the U.S.

The U.S. has planned several green hydrogen projects in the coming years to enhance energy security, lower emissions, and create more jobs. Given below is a list of the top 5 upcoming projects to look out for.

1. St. Gabriel Green Hydrogen Plant

The U.S. Department of Energy announced in January 2024 that it is planning to finalize a loan worth US$ 1.6 billion to Plug Power Inc., a New York-based clean energy technology provider. The loan will be used to develop six green hydrogen production plants in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. The construction work is estimated to begin in the second half of 2024. By the end of 2025, the plants are expected to produce nearly 500 tons of green hydrogen every day.

Plug Power Inc. joined hands with Missouri-based Olin Corp., a key manufacturer of sodium hydroxide, chlorine, and ammunition To construct these plants, Olin is considered one of the most prominent electrolytic hydrogen producers in North America. The partnership would allow the company to bring out its full potential of untapped supply in the U.S.

2. Sauk Valley Green Hydrogen Plant

Back in 2022, Chicago-based power generation operations and development firm Invenergy announced its first-ever 5-acre green hydrogen project. The new Sauk Valley hydrogen project is estimated to utilize power from the company’s co-located power plant as well as Ohmium International’s electrolyzer technology.

The novel project is anticipated to produce approximately 52 tons of hydrogen every year. On site, it will likely have a total capacity of about 400 kilograms of hydrogen. It is anticipated that the project will provide hydrogen to the company’s Nelson Energy Center. The plant is expected to be operational in 2024.

3. Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub

The Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub (MCHH) is anticipated to be one of the largest off-grid, zero-carbon hydrogen production hub in the U.S. It is expected to cater to the surging global and domestic hydrogen demand as well as bolster adoption at a broader scale.

The hub will likely to be operational in early 2027 or late 2026. It is set to utilize off-grid renewable power and electrolysis solutions from Hy Stor Energy, a Jackson-based renewable energy company.

Both Hy Stor Energy and Schneider Electric signed an agreement to initiate the development of MCHH. Under the agreement, Schneider Electric will deliver its cutting-edge automation and digital energy management solutions.

4. Hydrogen City Project

In October 2023, Inpex, headquartered in Japan, collaborated with Green Hydrogen International, a Texas-based firm, to accelerate the development of the latter’s flagship Hydrogen City. The company aims to produce green hydrogen and ammonia to fulfill the skyrocketing demand from global as well as Asian markets.

Green Hydrogen International focuses on producing hydrogen by using behind-the-meter renewable power and salt cavern storage. Its primary goal is to prevent the scale and cost hindrances that come along with green hydrogen production. The upcoming project is anticipated to be fully complete by 2030.

5. Matagorda E-fuels Facility

Highly Innovative Fuels Global (HIF Global), headquartered in Texas, bagged the green signal in April 2023 to develop and run the world’s biggest e-fuel production facility sin Matagorda, Texas. Construction work is set to begin in 2024.

The novel Matagorda facility is estimated to produce nearly 1.4 million tons of e-methanol every year by 2027. HIF Global plans to begin operating in the Gulf Coast where the availability of carbon dioxide and wind resources is inevitable.

It will then utilize renewable sources like wind and integrate it with the electrolysis process to produce green hydrogen. The resulting e-fuel is expected to develop a carbon neutral setting.

U.S. to Battle Infrastructure and Scalability Issues, Finding Support from the Government

The mission of several companies in the U.S. to replace traditional fossil fuels with green hydrogen is likely to succeed in the forthcoming years. Supportive norms and ongoing technological innovations are estimated to create new opportunities.

There might be a few challenges such as lack of infrastructure, scalability issues, and high investments. However, constant innovations to surge the efficiency of electrolyzer are set to boost hydrogen production and reduce total costs. It is anticipated that green hydrogen will give tough competition to conventional energy sources.

The government of the U.S. is also expected to support development of novel production technologies. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), for example is already offering new regulations and financial support to bolster the rapid transition. In future, partnerships with international companies are estimated to open the door to novel opportunities.