EPRI, working with Shell, launches Low-Carbon Hydrogen Accelerator
A group of organizations, including the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), have formed a new initiative designed to facilitate innovation in the commercialization of hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source.
The Low-Carbon Hydrogen Accelerator (LCHA) is a joint effort between EPRI, Shell, the City of Houston in partnership with Greentown Labs and the Urban Future Lab (UFL) at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
The LCHA is seeking applications from startups advancing low-carbon hydrogen production, enhancing hydrogen storage and distribution, or providing business model innovations for hydrogen supply chains.
Large-scale commercialization of low-carbon hydrogen will play an essential role in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. EPRI and Shell will provide startup participants with two main pathways: the technology validation track and the technology demonstration track. Both tracks offer exclusive access to EPRI’s breadth of testing facilities, demonstration sites, and technical experts, as well as experts from across Shell’s technology organization and hydrogen business.
“Accelerating low-carbon, hydrogen technologies is essential to achieving global net-zero targets by 2050,” Neva Espinoza, EPRI vice president of Energy Supply And Low-Carbon Resources, said. “EPRI looks forward to sharing our expertise in the energy industry with early-stage companies to advance innovations that could become game changers for economy-wide decarbonization. We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Greentown Labs in supporting the startup community.”
Shell officials say hydrogen fuel will play a key role in mobility and hard-to-decarbonize transport sectors such as heavy-duty trucking, marine, and aviation, as well as heavy industry such as cement, steel, and chemicals.
“At Shell, we believe in the power of collaboration, especially for uncovering new, exciting, and disruptive technologies,” Julie Ferland, vice president of Innovation Excellence at Shell, said. “Identifying and scaling solutions through open innovation vehicles such as the LCHA will be critical in the delivery of a low carbon energy future, and I am excited to see what novel technologies arise from the innovative startups that participate in the LCHA program.”
Earlier this year, the Department of Energy launched the “Hydrogen Energy Earthshot” to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80 percent by 2030.
Greentown, headquartered in Somerville, Mass, is the largest startup incubator in North America. The Urban Future Lab is New York City’s longest-running cleantech startup incubator.
“We know startups working in hard-to-decarbonize sectors of our economy need collaborative partnerships to scale their technologies and impact, which is why we’re so proud to partner with EPRI, Shell, NYU’s Urban Future Lab, and the City of Houston on the Low-Carbon Hydrogen Accelerator,” Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO of Greentown Labs, said. “Low-carbon hydrogen has the potential to play a key role in our economy-wide decarbonization efforts, and EPRI and Shell bring complementary areas of expertise to help make this vision a reality.”
LCHA applications are due by Feb. 9, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
