National Grid USA and Standard Hydrogen Corp. plan to demonstrate a green hydrogen storage and delivery system capable of catering to several sectors keen on utilizing the zero-carbon fuel.
The companies intend to deploy the first Energy Transfer System, or ETS, a combined hydrogen production, storage and distribution facility developed by Albany, N.Y.-based Standard Hydrogen. Pending regulatory approval, the partners intend to install the system in the Capital Region with completion slated for late 2022.
The demonstration is one of several hydrogen projects under development at National Grid PLC, which is also testing pipeline system hydrogen blending in the U.S. and U.K. Displacing portions of the natural gas stream with zero-carbon hydrogen is a key emerging decarbonization pathway for gas utilities.
The partners plan to purchase renewable electric power to operate the ETS's on-site electrolyzer, which splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. The system then stores and distributes the so-called green hydrogen.
"Green, renewable hydrogen is a key piece of the puzzle to reach net-zero by 2050," National Grid USA President Badar Khan said in a March 11 news release. "Innovative systems like this one are going to move the needle for a cleaner tomorrow."
Standard Hydrogen would build and operate the Capital Region ETS and deliver services to National Grid and its customers, the company said in a separate March 11 news release. National Grid said Standard Hydrogen would operate the station "in a financially optimized manner to reduce the impact on utility customers."
Standard Hydrogen designed the ETS to offer nine zero-carbon energy services to support electric power storage, heating and commercial gas service, electric vehicle fast-charging and other applications. The station would help to decarbonize the power, transportation and heating sectors, Khan said.
The company's model of generating revenue from multiple customer classes would help overcome high capital costs associated with hydrogen infrastructure and accelerate its deployment, according to Standard Hydrogen. The company aims to attract investment for additional stations through the demonstration.
"There is great hydrogen momentum right now. We are delighted to announce this exciting partnership, and the first infrastructure project within it, to add to that story," Standard Hydrogen co-founder and CEO Paul Mutolo said.
The companies said the first ETS station would be capable of avoiding 6,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and 740,000 gallons of gasoline demand annually.