Avangrid proposes solutions for DOE on how to enable clean hydrogen energy at scale

Avangrid recently responded to the U.S. Department of Energy’s request for information (RFI) on how to enable low-cost clean hydrogen energy at scale.

The DOE’s RFI seeks information from industry stakeholders on potential hydrogen demonstration projects in the United States. This request is part of the DOE’s Energy Earthshot Initiative to accelerate breakthroughs in clean energy solutions within the decade. Avangrid, a renewable energy company based in Connecticut, outlined its ideas for various regions across the United States that it serves, including Connecticut, New York, Maine, the Gulf Coast, and Oregon.

“We believe the time for green hydrogen as a viable clean energy fuel has come,” Avangrid CEO Dennis Arriola said. “Our partners at Iberdrola in Spain and at ScottishPower in the UK are already developing commercial scale green hydrogen projects. For example, Iberdrola is building the largest plant producing green hydrogen for industrial use in Europe. AVANGRID’s access to this global expertise, combined with our U.S. based partners and supporters, provides us with a unique advantage to help accelerate the commercial production of green hydrogen in the U.S.”

In Connecticut, the company proposed the idea of constructing a 20 MW electrolyzer and hydrogen storage facility for its Connecticut gas and electric utilities. It would be potentially powered by renewable energy from offshore wind and supplemented by additional solar or grid-based renewable electricity. The project could produce roughly 2.9 million kg of hydrogen per year, yielding an annual emissions reduction of approximately 25,000 tons of CO2.

In Rochester, N.Y. area, Avangrid proposed utilizing hydrogen for transportation. In collaboration with local area transportation authorities, Avangrid-owned Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) is assessing opportunities to construct a multi-use hydrogen production and distribution facility, which could support a range of hydrogen uses, including transportation applications to meet zero-emissions fleet goals.

In Maine, Central Maine Power (CMP), an Avangrid subsidiary, is exploring how to help advance green hydrogen consumption in existing manufacturing processes, for enhanced renewable natural gas production, and in transportation applications such as trucking and aviation.

In the Gulf Coast region, Avangrid Renewables has identified opportunities to support green hydrogen for industrial use on the Gulf Coast and provide cleaner solutions that strengthen the U.S.’s domestic energy leadership. For example, an electrolysis project in Corpus Christi, Texas would convert wind power into green hydrogen and ultimately into green ammonia. This project demonstrates the scalability of the technology and green hydrogen’s value in a clean energy transition.

Also, in Oregon. Avangrid proposed the colocation of green hydrogen production at Avangrid Renewables’ Klamath Cogeneration Plant. The idea would be to make the facility a source for fuel flexibility as the natural gas plant balances the energy generated by Avangrid’s 1,300 MW Northwest wind farm fleet. The proposed project would include a 20 MW electrolyzer to enable a two percent blend of green hydrogen into the plant’s fuel supply. This project has the potential to generate 3,000 metric tons of green hydrogen annually.

Avangrid, based in Orange, Conn., operates Avangrid Networks and Avangrid Renewables. Avangrid Networks owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid Renewables owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States.