US Appalachian hydrogen hub moves ahead

The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) has become the third hub in the US to move ahead into a planning phase. It could produce more than 500,000 t/yr of hydrogen, primarily from natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the hub developers — led by science and technology non-profit Battelle — an initial $30mn for a first phase. This will include planning, design and community engagement and is estimated to last 36 months with total investment of $96mn. The government has pledged to provide $925mn for the hub's full development, which is expected to last well into the 2030s.

ARCH2 follows California's Arches hub and the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (PNWH2) in moving ahead from the seven clusters that were selected last October under a $7bn hydrogen hubs programme.

ARCH2 would entail projects in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Much of ARCH2's output will come from natural gas with CCS, while Arches and PNWH2 will focus exclusively on renewable hydrogen production.

Several companies are planning to use autothermal reforming technology with CCS to make hydrogen as part of ARCH2, including project developers Fidelis New Energy and Keystate Energy and natural gas firms CNX Resources and EQT. The companies are targeting a wide range of applications. EQT will focus on synthetic fuels production, CNX Resources will make ammonia and Fidelis New Energy is targeting hydrogen use in data centres and for power generation.

The hub will involve development of required CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, although storage locations are yet to be determined.

Some companies are also considering other production pathways. Local gas distribution firm Enbridge Gas Ohio is planning to make hydrogen via electrolysis for refuelling fuel cell buses operated by the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority. Recycling and logistics company Empire Diversified Energy wants to make hydrogen from anaerobically-digested food waste using biogas generation and pyrolysis.

Average emissions from ARCH2 projects will be less than 2kg of CO2 equivalent per kg of hydrogen and could stay far below this level, according to the hub developers.

Other companies involved in the hub include French industrial gas firm Air Liquide and US hydrogen company Plug Power. These will focus on hydrogen liquefaction, storage and distribution projects. Derivatives such as ammonia and synthetic fuels could make up the bulk of the end uses for hydrogen produced at the hub, according to the ARCH2 developers.

By Stefan Krumpelmann

Selected US hydrogen hubs