Latest news with #HydrogenHub
Business News Wales
3 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
North Wales Is Building a Hydrogen Model That Works Locally
The Holyhead Hydrogen Hub is more than a renewable energy project. It's an opportunity for North Wales to take a leading role in the transition to a low carbon economy – not just by producing clean fuel, but by showing how regional collaboration, community ownership and innovation can come together in practice. At Ambition North Wales, we're supporting the development of the hub as a project within our North Wales Growth Deal – which is a £1 billion investment to the region's economy, £240m of which is funded by the Welsh Government and UK Government. Our wider role also includes delivering local area energy plans and regional transport planning, and coordinating the Regional Skills Partnership which helps prepare young people for careers – including in low carbon industries, such as hydrogen. All of this is directly connected to the opportunity presented by the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub. The hub will use renewable electricity from the Morlais tidal stream infrastructure off the coast of Anglesey to produce green hydrogen for use in transport and other hard-to-decarbonise sectors. That alone is significant. But what makes the project especially valuable is the model behind it, both in how it is structured and who it is designed to benefit. Morlais is owned and operated by Menter Môn Morlais Ltd, a subsidiary of Menter Môn Cyf a social enterprise set up 30-years ago to deliver economic and environmental benefit for people in Anglesey and North Wales. That means the energy used to power the hub is locally generated and community owned. The hydrogen facility itself is being delivered through a joint venture between Menter Môn and Hynamics, a subsidiary of EDF. It's a model that brings together local insight with technical expertise and shows that communities don't need to wait for external investment — they can lead or co-develop important energy infrastructure themselves. This kind of ownership model is less common in UK energy projects, particularly those involving newer technologies like hydrogen. But it aligns directly with Welsh Government's ambition to see one gigawatt of locally owned renewable energy capacity in place by 2030. In that context, the Holyhead scheme is not only timely – it's a potential blueprint for other regions looking to combine low carbon delivery with local benefit. The impact could be felt far beyond the site itself. If organisations across the region begin to explore hydrogen as part of their operations – from transport fleets to plant and machinery – this will open up further opportunities for refuelling infrastructure, storage, and workforce development. That's why raising awareness of the project is so important. By encouraging conversations between potential users and the project partners now, we can help ensure the right support is in place when the hydrogen becomes available. For North Wales, the hub is a chance to demonstrate what the region can offer, not only in terms of natural resources, but also in the strength of its partnerships and the ambition of its communities. It shows that innovation is not just about technology. It's also about ownership, delivery and benefit. The Holyhead Hydrogen Hub will bring these elements together in a way that can be a great example for other low carbon energy projects in Wales and beyond.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Marion County hydrogen hub leaders travel to Ohio for inspiration
FAIRMONT — Before they can build the future, the planners of Fairmont's proposed Hydrogen Hub had to see it. Last week, members of the Hydrogen Hub project team, including Brian Redmond, traveled to Canton, Ohio to view what hydrogen as a fuel source looks like in practice. The Stark Area Regional Transit has 22 hydrogen powered buses. 'It was great to see hydrogen vehicles in action,' Brian Redmond, owner of Hog Lick Aggregates, said. 'So it kind of proves the point. They demonstrated it can be done cleanly, safely — it's right in the middle of a more residential neighborhood. So it's very safe.' Members of the hub team included Lynn Lyon, industry consultant, Redmond, Joni Grey, Joseph Filchock and Blake Lillard from Pierpont Community and Technical College, Ana Claudia Sant Ana, Munkaila Lambongang from West Virginia University and Mothusi Pahl, vice president of Modern Hydrogen. Redmond said SARDA's operation will be a model that Fairmont's hub will try to build on. Redmond is one of the leads, if not the spearhead, for the project. While he and the rest of the project team will be working with SARDA, both groups are not sharing information and forming no contractual relationships. SARDA is just a good source of information, he said. Lyon, president of Energy Connects, said SARDA is the largest hydrogen transit fleet east of the Mississippi River. Aside from viewing how the hydrogen busses operate, the group also toured a facility that provides support to the fleet. The kind of work and best practices used in Canton are the type that Lyon and Redmond want to see deployed in Fairmont. To accomplish that will require a facility that qualifies as a training, maintenance and demonstration unit at the Fairmont site. Such a facility is already one of two key components of the future Hydrogen Hub, Redmond said. The Clean Fuel Services Institute for traditional transportation fuels and new alternatives will be one of the pillars at the hub. Lyon also appreciates one other aspect of the CFI since it appeals to her background in the oil and gas industry. 'What I really like about what we're working on with this facility is yes, it's about CDL, yes it's about maintaining the trucks, but one unique piece of it is the focus on the fuel. And in addition to traditional liquid fuels like diesel, we have a huge emphasis on innovative, alternative fuels like hydrogen or natural gas,' he said. Lyon said it was important to prove alternative fuels can power day to day operations with heavy duty trucks and off road mining equipment. Redmond said the CFI was in a planning grant right now. West Virginia University and Pierpont Community and Technical College are developing a curriculum for the institute, as well as conducting an economic analysis of the potential impact. Right now initial planning for the facility is being made, with facility and site design in progress. Lyons said she expects the design work to be done by next year, at which point she'll be able to provide a concrete timeline of when the project will be finished. Hydrogen Hubs are key to domestic energy production and regional economies across the U.S., according to the Clean Air Task Force. The organization advocates for the change in technologies and policies to get to zero emissions while producing high energy at a reasonable cost. Redmond cautioned that fuel production won't be part of the purpose of the Fairmont one, but rather act like a refueling station for hydrogen. 'For hydrogen to become a widely traded energy commodity, the hydrogen industry needs to build out regional, national and global networks of producers and off-takers,' Rachel Starr and Jonathan Lewis wrote in a policy brief for the Clean Air Task Force. 'Companies are not going to invest in hydrogen fuel equipment if hydrogen is only available in some pockets of the country.' Redmond has previously emphasized the importance of building out a hydrogen infrastructure in order to make the fuel reach the mainstream. 'We're excited about continuing forward and moving along,' Redmond said. 'And looking to see how we can bring some economic development to the region and county.'
Barnama
13-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Sarawak To Finalise Hydrogen Industry Regulations, Guidelines By Year-end
GENERAL KUCHING, May 13 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is working to ensure that regulations and guidelines for the state's hydrogen industry are finalised by the end of this year. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that efforts are currently being undertaken by the state's Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability. 'This regulatory clarity will provide confidence to investors, operators and the public alike - ensuring that the hydrogen economy develops in a safe, structured and sustainable manner,' he said in his speech at the Hydrogen Economy Forum 2025, here, today. Abang Johari said that as hydrogen projects continue to expand across Sarawak, the state has taken a bold step to ensure the safe and responsible development of this emerging industry. He said that on Nov 11, 2024, Sarawak made history by passing the Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Ordinance, which now includes provisions specifically dedicated to regulating hydrogen-related activities. 'This amendment, among other things, includes the development, generation, distribution and use of hydrogen, as part of our clean energy transition. It introduces new offences and penalties related to hydrogen activities, and empowers the government to impose relevant rates, levies or charges on hydrogen operations. 'I am pleased to share that this ordinance came into force on March 1, 2025, and the state Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability has been entrusted to oversee its implementation,' he said. Abang Johari also said that, in recognising the critical role of clean energy, Sarawak launched the state Hydrogen Hub early last year, further reinforcing its commitment to the energy transition. 'Our flagship large-scale green hydrogen initiatives - the H2ornbill and H2biscus projects - are progressing well, and are expected to complete their Front-End Engineering Design by the end of this year.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana congressmen pen letter for continued funding for Hydrogen Hub
As the Energy Department considers shutting down big energy projects, two Northwest Indiana congressmen are defending the continuation of the regional Hydrogen Hub. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, and U.S. Senator Jim Banks, R-Indiana, wrote a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright to urge the Trump administration to prioritize Northwest Indiana as a regional Hydrogen Hub. 'Prioritizing a Hydrogen Hub in Northwest Indiana is a bold, pro-American decision that plays to our state's strengths. Indiana offers the Hoosier workforce, infrastructure and industrial knowledge to deliver results fast,' the congressmen wrote in the letter. Energy Department officials are considering cutting funding for the development of four hydrogen production hubs in mostly Democratic-leaning states and maintaining funding for three hubs in mostly red states, according to a March Politico article. Congress and the Biden administration allocated the funding for the seven projects, so cutting the funding would politicize federal funds, according to the Politico article. The bp Whiting Refinery could be used for blue hydrogen production, which is created from clean natural gas using carbon capture technology. Blue hydrogen uses existing infrastructure and could provide 'a scalable energy source capable of meeting immediate energy demands,' according to the letter. A bp spokesman declined to comment. The Whiting Refinery can process up to 440,000 barrels of crude oil per day, according to the letter. Continuing the project 'will ensure that our energy and steel industries remain well positioned for success into the next century,' according to the letter. 'Investing in blue hydrogen production at this facility will bolster existing supply chains and will best position the United States for energy dominance,' the congressmen wrote. 'We believe the success of the hydrogen energy project will support the administration's stated goal to restore our critical industries and strengthen our manufacturing base.' The congressmen asked the Trump Administration to make the Hydrogen Hub a priority. 'Indiana is ready to lead the way in blue hydrogen innovation, strengthening American manufacturing, boosting our domestic energy supply and lowering costs by maximizing the potential of our abundant and reliable fossil fuel resources,' they wrote. Randy Palmateer, business manager for the Northwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, said the letter gave him 'renewed confidence that this project is going to happen.' 'My members know how important this is for our national, regional and state economy, and our representatives know that too,' Palmateer said. 'It would be a shame to see this project go away, (but) at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel as of now with the bipartisanship I'm seeing. I commend both of them.' Just Transition Northwest Indiana, a regional advocacy organization, has long opposed the Hydrogen Hub deal. In a statement Tuesday, the organization called the hub a 'false solution' as it creates blue hydrogen, which is produced with fossil gas using carbon capture and storage. Pursuing MachH2 funding illustrates a lack of foresight, according to JTNWI, saying the number of jobs will likely be 'negligible,' and crucial provisions for emergency preparedness, electric vehicles and community communication plans are lacking. 'It is a scam that creates the illusion of achieving climate action goals, when in fact, it only serves the fossil fuel industry to further the status quo,' the statement said. 'Rather than pursuing wasteful (carbon dioxide) pipelines and a blue hydrogen hub, Indiana must transition toward a renewable energy economy that future-proofs family-sustaining, union jobs and safeguard community health.' A spokesperson from MachH2 did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The project, according to Post-Tribune archives, will result in the avoidance of more than 3.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent each year. 'We realize mutual success requires building relationships and accountability with community, labor, tribal and other stakeholder groups across project areas,' a previous statement from MachH2 said. 'Since application submission, MachH2 continues to focus on comprehensive social characterization assessments and identifying all relevant stakeholders across our potential project locations. … We are also developing hub-wide accountability mechanisms and processes, to ensure that each of our projects include all relevant and diverse stakeholders in their decision-making.' akukulka@ mwilkins@
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Indiana congressmen pen letter for continued funding for Hydrogen Hub
As the Energy Department considers shutting down big energy projects, two Northwest Indiana congressmen are defending the continuation of the regional Hydrogen Hub. U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, and U.S. Senator Jim Banks, R-Indiana, wrote a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright to urge the Trump administration to prioritize Northwest Indiana as a regional Hydrogen Hub. 'Prioritizing a Hydrogen Hub in Northwest Indiana is a bold, pro-American decision that plays to our state's strengths. Indiana offers the Hoosier workforce, infrastructure and industrial knowledge to deliver results fast,' the congressmen wrote in the letter. Energy Department officials are considering cutting funding for the development of four hydrogen production hubs in mostly Democratic-leaning states and maintaining funding for three hubs in mostly red states, according to a March Politico article. Congress and the Biden administration allocated the funding for the seven projects, so cutting the funding would politicize federal funds, according to the Politico article. The bp Whiting Refinery could be used for blue hydrogen production, which is created from clean natural gas using carbon capture technology. Blue hydrogen uses existing infrastructure and could provide 'a scalable energy source capable of meeting immediate energy demands,' according to the letter. A bp spokesman declined to comment. The Whiting Refinery can process up to 440,000 barrels of crude oil per day, according to the letter. Continuing the project 'will ensure that our energy and steel industries remain well positioned for success into the next century,' according to the letter. 'Investing in blue hydrogen production at this facility will bolster existing supply chains and will best position the United States for energy dominance,' the congressmen wrote. 'We believe the success of the hydrogen energy project will support the administration's stated goal to restore our critical industries and strengthen our manufacturing base.' The congressmen asked the Trump Administration to make the Hydrogen Hub a priority. 'Indiana is ready to lead the way in blue hydrogen innovation, strengthening American manufacturing, boosting our domestic energy supply and lowering costs by maximizing the potential of our abundant and reliable fossil fuel resources,' they wrote. Randy Palmateer, business manager for the Northwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, said the letter gave him 'renewed confidence that this project is going to happen.' 'My members know how important this is for our national, regional and state economy, and our representatives know that too,' Palmateer said. 'It would be a shame to see this project go away, (but) at least there's a light at the end of the tunnel as of now with the bipartisanship I'm seeing. I commend both of them.' Just Transition Northwest Indiana, a regional advocacy organization, has long opposed the Hydrogen Hub deal. In a statement Tuesday, the organization called the hub a 'false solution' as it creates blue hydrogen, which is produced with fossil gas using carbon capture and storage. Pursuing MachH2 funding illustrates a lack of foresight, according to JTNWI, saying the number of jobs will likely be 'negligible,' and crucial provisions for emergency preparedness, electric vehicles and community communication plans are lacking. 'It is a scam that creates the illusion of achieving climate action goals, when in fact, it only serves the fossil fuel industry to further the status quo,' the statement said. 'Rather than pursuing wasteful (carbon dioxide) pipelines and a blue hydrogen hub, Indiana must transition toward a renewable energy economy that future-proofs family-sustaining, union jobs and safeguard community health.' A spokesperson from MachH2 did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The project, according to Post-Tribune archives, will result in the avoidance of more than 3.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent each year. 'We realize mutual success requires building relationships and accountability with community, labor, tribal and other stakeholder groups across project areas,' a previous statement from MachH2 said. 'Since application submission, MachH2 continues to focus on comprehensive social characterization assessments and identifying all relevant stakeholders across our potential project locations. … We are also developing hub-wide accountability mechanisms and processes, to ensure that each of our projects include all relevant and diverse stakeholders in their decision-making.'
