Hydrogen fuel Gains Popularity
STILLWATER (PAR)- Australian company Woodside Energy Ltd. is coming to Ada, Oklahoma and bring hydrogen as a renewable energy to invest in its future even as a historically oil-and-gas state.
Collaborations with Ardmore Development Authority (ADA), OG&E, The Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Seattle engineering firm First Mode, Woodside is hopeful to eventually produce 90 liquid tons a day on 94 acres of land that the Australian company had recently purchased.
“We expect to see large-scale hydrogen production internationally by 2030, and Woodside intends to play a role in this emerging global industry,” Shaun Gregory, told hyzonmotors.com, Woodside Executive Vice President of Sustainability.
Hydrogen will be produced through its existing network of wind, solar and Oklahoma’s expansive pipeline system to trap hydrogen. Depleted oil and gas reservoirs will also take advantage of hydrogen production. Hydrogen is seen as environmentally friendly and can be used to fuel cars and generate electricity.
Woodside is going to lead the hydrogen market here in Oklahoma as it will contribute to creating its own infrastructure while simultaneously using the existing one to drive production of hydrogen. The concept of having this hydrogen production was able to come into fruition within one year.
Hyzon Motors, a leading supplier of hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Woodside, according to yahoo.com. This is an agreement between two parties that is not legally binding but can be seen as a start for negotiations.
The Hydrogen Production, Transportation, and Infrastructure Task Force (H2 OK Task Force) has released stats and figures of the impact of the industry coming to Ardmore, Oklahoma late last year.
According to Secretary of Energy and Environment, Kenneth Wagner, “The financial impact and job creation associated with the development of the Oklahoma Hydrogen Economy has the potential to add 6,400 jobs to our state with financial impacts ranging from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion,”
The task force was created by Senate Bill 1021 to help the storage, transportation, infrastructure of the new energy that will eventually come to Oklahoma. The task force has seen cooperation’s from universities and industry leaders to help create a viable way to create the hydrogen industry.
“The task force received assistance from energy industry representatives, research institutions, manufacturers, policy makers, environmental groups, potential investors, and other interested parties throughout this process and the vast stakeholder insight has been incredibly valuable to our report,” said Wagner
Hyzon Motors plans to expand the hydrogen market through the heavy-duty vehicle customers in Oklahoma. The Rochester, New York company seeks to begin production for the H2OK project in 2025.
The H2OK project will reach a final investment decision mid-2022. The production is set to begin in 2025 as the new hydrogen facility is planned to be complete. The project will be a proving ground and add to the company’s portfolio.
Woodside is creating partnerships to add to the new energy that will help Oklahoma’s economy and bring in money and jobs. Woodside has come from Australia to further renewable energy and has taken the first steps in this industry within Oklahoma.