The Western Way supports, HB-1140, sponsored by Colorado Representatives Dan Woog (HD-63) and Donald Valdez (HD-62), the bill will pave the way for green hydrogen projects to be developed in Colorado. Green hydrogen is defined as hydrogen that is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity from renewable resources. Green hydrogen could be a critical component to energy storage and transportation and industry fuels in the near future. HB-1140 from Representatives Woog and Valdez would allow for green hydrogen to be added to the state of Colorado’s resource list of allowable renewable energy resources to meet energy standards and the bill would also instruct the state to add green hydrogen to the state’s GHG emission reduction roadmap. The bill would help spur new investments in hydrogen projects that are expected in the near future colorado.
Companies and governments around the world are investing billions of dollars in research and development of hydrogen strategies, infrastructure, and deployment. Colorado recently partnered with neighboring states to compete for $8 billion dollars for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs.
Just last week a company in South Texas, announced plans to build the largest green hydrogen production and storage hub in the world. The facility would utilize 60GW of behind the meter wind and solar and salt dome storage formations to provide up to 6TWh of energy storage. That’s a big deal and a sign that this technology is being taken seriously by investors and developers.
"Hydrogen City is a massive, world class undertaking that will put Texas on the map as a leading green hydrogen producer. Texas has been the world leader in energy innovation for over 100 years and this project is intended to cement that leadership for the next century and beyond," says GHI's founder and CEO Brian Maxwell.
Negotiations are ongoing with respect to end-use options for GHI produced green hydrogen, but these options include show the flexibility and potential uses of green hydrogen:
Green ammonia for export markets: GHI is exploring the opportunity to export green ammonia to Asia. Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) plans to add 30 million tonnes per year of renewable ammonia to the country's fuel mix by 2050. "Japanese and Korean companies are interesting partners for us in this project given their countries desire to shift to green ammonia" says Maxwell.
Green ammonia for the fertilizer market: Higher natural gas prices has led to skyrocketing fertilizer costs for farmers. Fertilizer produced from green hydrogen can help remove unexpected price volatility.
Sustainable aviation fuel: GHI is in discussions with potential off takers of green hydrogen as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). GHI believes Corpus Christi is well placed to become a major SAF production hub.
Sustainable Rocket Fuel: The company is looking at combining hydrogen with CO2 at the Port of Brownsville to create a green methane rocket fuel for launch operations in South Texas.
Fuel switching power plants: H2 can also be used as a natural gas substitute at power plants. Over 4GW of new gas power plants have been proposed in the US that can burn a combination of hydrogen and natural gas.