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    1. Energy Efficiency

    Siemens Energy and Georgia Tech partner to develop Sustainable H2 and Clean Energy solutions

    Dec. 6, 2022
    The first project under the partnership will focus on developing solutions that enable the flexible use of hydrogen fuels and help cut the carbon footprint of other energy sources
    Image credit Georgia Tech
    Ga Tech Research 638f6cfc0150c

    Siemens Energy has signed an agreement with the Georgia Institute of Technology to work together on the development of sustainable energy technology solutions such as green hydrogen.

    The agreement, signed at the energy firm’s Innovation Center-Orlando, will allow the two companies to conduct joint research projects, while also supporting each other’s independent research and development work.

    The first project under the partnership will focus on developing solutions that enable the flexible use of hydrogen fuels and help cut the carbon footprint of other energy sources. The future joint efforts may focus on government-funded projects, mainly those related to hydrogen.

    Additionally, the agreement will allow the energy firm to effectively serve as an industrial advisory board member for the institute’s research efforts. It will also enable Georgia Tech to perform contract work in support of research projects spearheaded by Siemens Energy.

    “At Siemens Energy, we always say that when it comes to enabling the energy transition, we can’t do it alone,” said Rich Voorberg, president of Siemens Energy North America. “Georgia Tech is one of the leading research institutions in this country, and we are proud to continue to build on our strong relationship to deliver innovative solutions in support of clean, reliable, economically viable energy systems.”

    Hydrogen does not contain a carbon atom and thus does not emit CO2 when combusted. It is not abundantly or easily available, and thus must be generated via carbon-intensive steam reforming of methane gas or by electrolysis using electricity to separate the H2 from water.

    To be considered truly green hydrogen, the electrolyzers must powered by carbon-free resources such as solar, wind, nuclear and/or hydropower.

    Hydrogen also can deliver energy for transportation via fuel-cell technology, which uses a chemical and oxidation process to convert the H2 into electricity for vehicles.

    “We are beyond excited to enter into this important partnership with Siemens Energy,” said Tim Lieuwen, Professor and Executive Director for the Strategic Energy Institute at Georgia Tech. “Siemens Energy will enable us to make good on our mission to integrates energy activities across the nation's largest technology university – from generation, to distribution, to use.”

    Georgia Tech overall conducts more than $1 billion worth of research annually in many industrial sectors. Some of those included microgrid, fuel cell and renewable energy projects.

    The university has many projects under way at its Power Lab (pictured).

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.