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* Crain’s…
Illinois is a key player in a Midwest project that will receive $1 billion in federal funding to develop hydrogen as a clean energy source.
The $1 trillion infrastructure bill that was passed in 2021 included $7 billion for clean-hydrogen hubs. The Biden administration announced seven hubs this morning, including the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, known as MachH2, which involves Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.
The Biden administration estimates that the Midwest hub will create 12,100 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs. […]
Illinois has been pursuing the project for more than a year. The group involved governors of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana, as well as 70 corporate and university partners, including energy companies such as Constellation Energy — which operates several Illinois nuclear plants — Exelon, Nicor, Invenergy and Ameren, as well as Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Illinois, University of Chicago, Governors State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Illinois Chicago, Northwestern and several other Big Ten universities. Other corporate partners include BP and USG.
* From the Biden administration…
Midwest Hydrogen Hub (Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2); Illinois, Indiana, Michigan) — Located in a key U.S. industrial and transportation corridor, the Midwest Hydrogen Hub will enable decarbonization through strategic hydrogen uses including steel and glass production, power generation, refining, heavy-duty transportation, and sustainable aviation fuel. This H2Hub plans to produce hydrogen by leveraging diverse and abundant energy sources, including renewable energy, natural gas, and low-cost nuclear energy. The Midwest Hydrogen Hub anticipates creating 13,600 direct jobs—12,100 in construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs. (Amount: up to $1 billion)
* Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen…
“I couldn’t be prouder that once again, Illinois and the Midwest will be leading the way in equity-conscious clean energy development through the construction of a major hydrogen production and distribution hub,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “When I signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2019, it was with this sort of collaborative, economically sound manufacturing and expansion in mind, and we are seeing the results of those efforts play out every day. We’re grateful that the Biden administration has recognized our regional strength in workforce, education, and innovation, and look forward to working with MachH2 and our neighboring states to continue this project.”
* Sen. Sue Rezin…
“As a member of the Illinois Hydrogen Economy Task Force for the past year, I have been proud to support MachH2’s bid because I know that Illinois has the means and expertise to set a national standard for how clean hydrogen production and distribution can work,” said Sen. Rezin “Today’s announcement of this billion-dollar grant for the MachH2 is extremely exciting news as it is the next step in establishing this regional hydrogen hub that will help lead our state and nation to a better energy future.”
* Sen. Dave Koehler…
“When I led the hydrogen use tax credit, I wanted to display Illinois as an attractive option for hydrogen hubs that will support our agricultural, refinery and transportation industries and create jobs for workers across the state,” said Koehler. “With this announcement, our energy industry will continue to thrive and be known across the country. I would like to thank State Representative Terra Costa Howard and Deputy Governor for Public Safety, Infrastructure, Environment, and Energy Bria Scudder for being champions for Illinois energy.”
* US Rep. Nikki Budzinski…
“By embracing 21st century energy infrastructure, we can create good-paying jobs and protect our planet for future generations,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m thrilled that the MachH2 Regional Hydrogen Hub will be receiving up to $1 billion in federal support as we work to drive American energy production and economic independence. This project will build on Illinois’ strong leadership in renewable energy innovation.”
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:09 pm
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“produce hydrogen by leveraging diverse and abundant energy sources, including renewable energy, natural gas, and low-cost nuclear energy.”
One of those things still produces carbon. Either by stripping the H+ out of natural gas directly, leaving the carbon as a byproduct, or using nat gas combustion to produce steam, to produce electricity to generate H+.
It doesn’t move any closer to decarbonization. It simply adds more steps to producing carbon.
H+ really only has a use as a localized energy storage mechanism, similar to the ways hydro plants cant use excess energy to pump water uphill into storage when supply exceeds demand. Then when called for that water is allowed to flow back down through turbines to pull the kinetic energy back out.
Adding more steps will provide a source of jobs no doubt, but from a power efficiency standpoint it will not provide a benefit. These proposals are very similar to the current Ethanol for fuel model.
There aren’t massive reserves of H+ sitting around. It takes energy input to create H+ on a scale where it would be useful. Making it useless as a power source, but useful for a power storage mechanism.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:31 pm
Illinois should go ahead and get the federal money and do the research. I don’t think it will be useable for most applications due to the high costs, but that’s what the research is for. If the costs are brought down enough, it might be an alternative carbon-free fuel for peaker plants.
Comment by DuPage Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:43 pm
I’m also having mixed emotions. Hydrogen burns as clean as you can get. *Making* the hydrogen is all in the details. The cleanest way to make it is electrolyzing water using nuclear, wind, or solar electricity. The other methods are comparatively dirty and inefficient but leverage existing petroleum/ natural gas infrastructure. Hydrogen is hard to store and pipe: it seeps right through its container. Spacex prefers methane because of that. I look at H2 as the Petro guys using a nicotine patch to slowly get off their addiction. I do think it is good to use hydrogen for steel plants and I’d push for that first.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:45 pm
===There aren’t massive reserves of H+ sitting around. It takes energy input to create H+ on a scale where it would be useful. Making it useless as a power source, but useful for a power storage mechanism.
Isn’t part of the idea that you create hydrogen energy storage from the excess energy from wind and solar and then you can use it when wind and solar are low?
Not a solution to everything, but could reduce our reliance on rare earth elements batteries need.
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 12:48 pm
@12:31 ===Either by stripping the H+ out of natural gas directly, leaving the carbon as a byproduct===
If it leaves solid carbon, (not carbon dioxide) as a byproduct, that could be safely disposed of by putting it back into open pit coal mines. Would this ever be cost competitive? Thats what the research is for.
Comment by DuPage Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 1:15 pm
Arch, the Hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity directly. So yes, like a battery, kinda. But unless you bind it up in a catalyst, it is very hard to keep contained. getting it out of the catalyst again requires applying more energy so it’s not super efficient. There are probably better kinds of large format batteries for storing wind and solar power, like chemical flow batteries or variations on lithium technologies. Hydrogen can make a huge difference however, in replacing coal and gas in foundry plants, where they need a lot of continuous heat for melting metals. The Co2 emissions and oxides produced by non-electric smelters is a significant problem, and going to clean-burning hydrogen for those applications would make very positive and rapid results in cleaning air and fighting global warming, while keeping American steel competitive.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 1:23 pm
I came here for a political conversation and got a science lesson instead.
I feel cheated, yet smarter somehow.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 2:54 pm
Ditto to 47th Ward and thanks Give Us Barabbas!
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 3:21 pm
So I shouldn’t run out and buy a hydrogen cell car then?
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Oct 13, 23 @ 4:22 pm