US utility Invenergy has confirmed to Hydrogen Economist that completion of its first green hydrogen project—Sauk Valley Hydrogen—has slipped into Q2 2023 from the previous target date of the end of last year.

The development aims to produce 52t/yr of green hydrogen using a proton-exchange-membrane electrolyser provided by manufacturer Ohmium International and power from a co-located Invenergy solar farm. Invenergy has previously indicated that the hydrogen could be used in its nearby 584MW Nelson Energy Center gas-fired power plant.

Although Invenergy’s first hydrogen project is delayed, the company is expanding its presence across potential regional hubs for hydrogen in the US.

The uility confirms to Hydrogen Economist it is taking part in bids for federal funding for the establishment of hydrogen hubs as part of three regional consortiums: the Pacific Northwest, the Northeast and the Midwest. All three have submitted concept papers given the greenlight to proceed for full application by the US Department of Energy (DoE), which will ultimately select 6–10 applications for federal funding of up to $1bn per hub.

The DoE had encouraged progression for 33 out of 79 concept papers, including those submitted by Texas’s Hyvelocity hub and California’s Arches coalition, and will award funding this autumn.

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Author: Polly Martin