Signatories encompass 14 private sector companies, 12 utilities, 20 hydrogen technology original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), 10 universities, seven non-profit organizations, five other States, two transportation companies, and three State agencies.
Under the MoU, parties will collaborate to develop a proposal that will enable the region to become one of at least four regional clean hydrogen hubs designated through the federal Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
A coalition of six States (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island), along with the partners, are laying the groundwork for a proposal for the United States Department of Energy funding opportunity anticipated to be announced in September or October, with up to $8bn in total funding available.
Up to 22 projects are on the drawing board and the industrial sector is the most widely targeted end-use.
Consortium partners have committed to collaborate with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Power Authority, and Empire State Development to advance the clean hydrogen projects. At the same time, partnering States will also coordinate with their respective State entities to help align the consortium’s efforts with each State’s climate and clean energy goals, such as Massachusetts goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The partners will work together to:
Define the shared vision and plans for the regional clean hydrogen hub that can advance safe, clean hydrogen energy innovation and investment and address climate change while improving the health, resiliency, and economic development of the region’s residents.
Advance a hydrogen hub proposal that makes climate and environmental concerns central to its strategy, which will deliver opportunities and improve the quality of life for under-resourced areas in the region.
Perform research and analysis necessary to support the hydrogen hub proposal and to quantify the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from this project.
Develop a framework to ensure the ecosystem for innovation, production, infrastructure, and related workforce development is shared across all partner States.
Support environmentally responsible opportunities to develop clean hydrogen in accordance with the participating States’ policies.
The coalition will continue to focus on the integration of renewables – such as onshore and offshore wind, hydropower, and solar PV – and nuclear power into clean hydrogen production and the evaluation of clean hydrogen for use in transportation, including for medium and heavy-duty vehicles, heavy industry, power generation applications, and other appropriate uses consistent with decarbonisation efforts.
Dr. Vasilis Gregoriou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Advent Technologies, one of the signatories, said, “All of us at Advent embrace the belief that the world can decarbonise faster by adopting hydrogen and fuel cells to replace conventional and polluting energy sources that use fossil fuels. We look forward to a successful collaboration with the consortium partners.”
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is expected to announce selected projects by May 2023.