The project loan application was submitted on May 26, 2022 and has now progressed through the Part I review.
The application for a loan guarantee under the Innovative Clean Energy projects solicitation could amount to up to $1.3bn for a renewable electrolytic hydrogen production facility that could produce up to 150 tonnes of hydrogen per day. The application process is wholly dependent on the results of the Department of Energy (DOE) review and evaluation of a Part II Application, and DOE’s determination whether to proceed.
The Phoenix Hydrogen Hub owns 920 acres of undeveloped land in Maricopa County, Arizona, where the facility is planned to be sited to support the deployment of Nikola’s heavy duty, zero-emission fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen refuelling stations in California and the US Southwest.
The hub is expected to be built in phases to scale with the demand created from Nikola’s zero-emission trucks, starting with 30 tonnes, and expanding up to 150 tonnes of hydrogen per day, with expansion potential as the demand for clean hydrogen in the region expands. Construction of the first phase is anticipated to be completed in 2024, once final investment decisions and customary regulatory approvals are finalised.
Carey Mendes, Nikola President, Energy, said, “This hub is intended to provide urgently needed renewable based energy solutions and a pathway to a decarbonised transportation sector. What’s more, it is expected to support clean hydrogen use in additional applications such as industrial, residential, and commercial heating, as well as for decarbonising natural gas and power generation.”
Last month Nikola and ChargePoint partnered to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the US. The collaboration will enable Nikola and the Nikola Sales and Service Dealer Network to resell ChargePoint’s portfolio of charging infrastructure and software solutions to its fleet customers. Nikola is aiming to deploy 60 dispensing stations by 2026, and teaming up with E.ON in Europe.