Key coalition partners, including Linde, Energy Harbor, GE Aerospace, Cleveland-Cliffs, multiple glass manufacturers and the University of Toledo, will develop low carbon hydrogen on site at Energy Harbor’s Davis-Besse nuclear plant.

The industry-led coalition aims to transition Midwest manufacturing, mobility, power generation and technology operators away from greenhouse gas emitting feedstocks and fuels, to hydrogen, a low carbon alternative solution.

This action will also attract investors and new businesses who value access to low carbon hydrogen resulting in jobs at prevailing wages, support for disadvantaged communities and a healthier environment. Today’s filing of the GLCH Concept Paper is the initial step in the DOE hydrogen hub application process.

The region offers access to ample carbon-free nuclear power, lies at the major crossroads of I-80 and I-75, and has high concentration of manufacturing and technology companies.

Frank Calzonetti, Vice President for Research at The University of Toledo, said the hub aims to ensure the MidWest is a leader in decarbonisation so that regional industries and supply chains are globally competitive.

GLCH will seek to differentiate itself from other hub initiatives through the use of existing carbon free infrastructure from Energy Harbor’s nuclear power generation, technology that produces low carbon hydrogen at a very competitive price, diverse distribution channels and hydrogen-ready facilities, such as Cleveland-Cliffs’ Direct Reduction plant.

The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2) recently submitted an application to the DOE for funding to develop a regional clean hydrogen hub too (click here).

MachH2, a multi-state coalition of public and private entities across the hydrogen value chain, plans to establish a hydrogen production and distribution hub.

Members of the coalition include Air Liquide, Bloom Energy, American Centre for Mobility, LanzaTech, Plug Power, and Idaho National Laboratory, among others.

States are in a race to establish themselves as hydrogen centres and capitalise on tax credits and other incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Texas continues to be a hotspot for hydrogen technologies and innovation with Clean Energy Holdings, ING Americas, and Equix, starting development of a 250MW green hydrogen project.

The alliance project is believed to become one of the country’s ‘largest’ with commercial operations expected to begin by the end of 2024.

Washington launched a new association dedicated to reducing air and water pollution, creating clean energy jobs and growing the US state into a major hydrogen producer in March.

Read more:  Washington Green Hydrogen Alliance launched