Invenergy will soon break ground on its first green hydrogen project, to be developed in Nelson Township, Illinois, in collaboration with green hydrogen electrolyzer specialist, Ohmium International.
The new 5-acre Sauk Valley Hydrogen Project will include Ohmium’s polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer – which has capacity to generate 6 kilograms of hydrogen per hour and 52 tons annually. Invenergy’s co-located solar plant will provide power to the electroyzer.
The project will have the capacity to store up to 400 kgs of hydrogen on site that could be used to power Invenergy's 584-MW Nelson Energy Center for carbon-free electricity generation. Meanwhile, any surplus hydrogen generated at the facility would be shipped and used offsite.
"The Invenergy team is incredibly excited to launch our first green hydrogen venture as we continue to lead the transition to a clean energy future," Matt Nicholls, Vice President, Origination New Technologies at Invenergy said. "Green hydrogen is an innovative, zero-carbon solution that enables us to decarbonize sectors across the economy through clean power. Green hydrogen projects can scale rapidly and efficiently to reach megawatt to gigawatt applications. We are proud to be working with Ohmium International as we launch this green hydrogen development."
Electrolyzers work to separate the hydrogen from water. In the PEM type, an electric current is applied to the cell which splits water into oxygen and hydrogen, the latter of which passes through the membrane to form H2 gas.
The Sauk Valley Hydrogen Project is Invenergy's 21st project in Illinois and is expected to commence operations by the end of 2022.
