(H2V) CATERPILLAR ANNOUNCE H2 CHP PROJECT

Construction machinery manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. has today (May 31) announced a three-year project to demonstrate a hydrogen-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) system for building heating and cooling.

Building on the company’s 35 years of experience with hydrogen fuel, Caterpillar will work to integrate its CHP system into Minnesota-based District Energy St. Paul’s electric and thermal infrastructure.

The Caterpillar CHP systems which provide both electricity and heat simultaneously, will be used by District Energy St. Paul, which distributes chilled and hot water to cool and heat buildings and single-family homes in St. Paul, Minnesota.

H2 View understands the project is supported and partially funded by the US Department of Energy and has been backed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Joe Creed, Group President of Energy and Transportation at Caterpillar, said, “Caterpillar is focused on supporting our customers with reliable, sustainable power solutions.”

“This hydrogen demonstration project will enable us to evaluate additional hydrogen fuel options for an existing energy-efficient engine, providing even more possibilities for helping our customers meet their climate-related goals and objectives.”

Caterpillar currently offers a 1250kW generator that operates on 100% hydrogen, as well as other power generation solutions from 400kW to 4.5MW that can run on a 25% hydrogen blend with natural gas. H2 View - link - Charlie Currie - link - more like this (H2 fuel) - link - more like this (USA) - link

(CNB) RENAULT EMBRACES H2

Details of Renault’s Scénic Vision concept car were presented to the public on May 19, 2022. The firm’s idea of developing a passenger vehicle that uses hydrogen technology is not unique. - Benjamin Girette | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Renault has released details of an electric-hydrogen hybrid concept car, with the French automaker describing hydrogen technology as being “one of the options to make electric vehicles more convenient.”

The design for Renault’s Scenic Vision incorporates a hydrogen engine, electric motor, battery, fuel cell and a hydrogen tank. The 2.5 kilogram tank is located at the vehicle’s front and, Renault said, would take around five minutes to fill.

According to a document published on Thursday that outlined the concept, the Scenic Vision’s 40 kilowatt hour battery is recyclable and will be produced at a facility in France by 2024.

In a statement, Gilles Vidal, who is director of design at Renault, said the concept “prefigures the exterior design of the new Scénic 100% electric model for 2024.” The company said the electric-hydrogen powertrain was “part of a longer-term vision, beyond 2030.”

The broad idea is that the Scenic Vision’s hydrogen fuel cell would help extend the vehicle’s range during longer trips. “In 2030 and beyond, once the network of hydrogen stations is large enough, you will be able to drive up to 800 km [a little over 497 miles] … without stopping to charge the battery,” Renault said. CNBC - link - Anmar Frangoul - link - more like this (H2 cars) - link - more like this (France) - link

(CHS) WHITBY H2

RESIDENTS in part of Ellesmere Port could get free boiler upgrades if the area is chosen to become the UK's first 'hydrogen village'.

Up to 2,000 properties in the Whitby area of the town would stop using natural gas for heating and cooking, and instead use hydrogen. The project is seen as critical to helping solve the global climate crisis.

The proposal, put forward by gas distribution network Cadent and British Gas, and supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council, is confirmed in a shortlist of two locations hoping to be the first to use hydrogen on this scale.

The chosen location will start being supplied with hydrogen in 2025.

Hydrogen can be supplied through the existing network of gas pipes. Unlike natural gas, it produces no carbon emissions when burned in a boiler to heat properties.

If Ellesmere Port is picked as the ‘hydrogen village’, every property in the selected area within Whitby will get free boiler upgrades, to new hydrogen-ready versions. This means residents continue using boilers they are familiar with today.

There is a guarantee too that, for the duration of the two-year programme, residents will pay the same to use hydrogen as they would pay for using natural gas.

Marc Clarke, head of hydrogen consumer, Cadent, said: “This is a really exciting project that puts Whitby in Ellesmere Port right at the heart of a lower carbon future for the country as a whole.

“Previous projects have clearly shown hydrogen’s potential, and now, with this scheme, we are showing how hydrogen can be used at scale to cut emissions from heating and cooking.

“We already know that Whitby has an unparalleled geographic location for hydrogen. The North West is already on track to produce the low carbon hydrogen required for the scheme from Ellesmere Port’s HyNet project, and we have been undertaking work over the past few years to ensure the region’s pipes are ready to take hydrogen.”

Energy regulator Ofgem and the Government today said Ellesmere Port and one other project, in the North East of England, could proceed to the next stage.

Cadent and British Gas have written to all residents whose properties would be supplied with hydrogen, to explain the programme in more detail. Every property in the area will be surveyed and residents will be consulted throughout.

More information, including answers to questions and a map showing the area selected, is at www.hydrogenvillage.com. Chester Standard - link - Mark Dowling - link - more like this (domestic H2 ) - link

(HFN) AIR PRODUCTS ANNOUNCES CASA GRANDE H2 FACILITY

Trexlertown, Pennsylvania-based Air Products has announced that it will be building and operating its own 10 metric ton green liquid hydrogen fuel production facility in Casa Grande, Arizona.

The new plant will have a production capacity of an estimated 10 metric tons per day; slated to begin production next year. It will be used for serving the Californian mobility market, in addition to those in other locations that require renewable H2 to meet their net zero carbon emission goals.

The state of California has announced its intentions to completely decarbonize its transportation sector. That is the sector with the highest pollution contribution in its economy. It intends to achieve that goal by transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. 

It has established a 2035 target for all Class 8 heavy-duty trucks (drayage trucks) to be zero-emission vehicles. Moreover, by 2045, all heavy-duty vehicles in the state will have been converted to zero-emission models.
Green liquid hydrogen fuel is becoming an increasingly popular option in this decarbonization transition.

Fuel cells have drawn considerable attention when compared to battery electric vehicles when it comes to heavy-duty applications. The reason is that H2 technology currently boasts longer range, faster refueling times, and larger payloads. Moreover, it has also shown to provide superior performance in extreme climate conditions, according to a statement from Air Products.

The company’s new plant will produce the renewable H2 using two Thyssenkrupp Nucera electrolyzers. Those will use water to produce the H2 in a gaseous state. From there, the company’s own proprietary technology will be used to liquify it. The green liquid hydrogen facility will use advanced compression technology acquired by way of the strategic alliance Air Products has made with Baker Hughes.

The new Casa Grande site will also include a product distribution terminal to ship the fuel to customer locations in markets across California and other states. The production process used by Air Products will be powered entirely by renewable energy, which means that there won’t be carbon emissions throughout both the production and use of the fuel. Hydrogen Fuel News - link - Alicia Moore - link - more like this (USA) - link - more like this (H2) - link

(GUL) BEHOLD - THE JET H2 FLYING BOAT

The Jet, the world’s first clean-energy, hydrogen-powered flying boat, is set to be launched in Dubai.

The Swiss based startup THE JET ZeroEmission announced that it has signed an agreement with UAE-based Zenith Marine Services and DWYN to manufacture and operate The Jet.

The announcement is a step ahead for the clean-tech industry and for the start-up itself, which garnered part of the required EUR10m funding, official news agency WAM reported.

The boat will cruise without noise over the waters at a speed of 40 knots, and has a capacity of hosting 8-12 passengers. It is equipped with two fuel cells, an air conditioner and other environmentally friendly technologies that help reduce carbon emissions.

“We are pleased to make this announcement from Dubai, and be able to manufacture and launch ‘The Jet’, which is going to be the world’s first boat to sail without noise, waves, or emissions and have the capability of flying 80cm above the waters,” said Alain Thébault, founder of THE JET ZeroEmission, and an erstwhile world sailing speed record holder. Gulf Business - link - Zainab Mansoor - link - more like this - link

(H2V) EASYJET COMMITS TO H2

Catching a flight for your favourite holiday destination could soon be a lot greener, with easyJet today (Jan 10) confirming a new partnership with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) to support the development of its hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system for commercial aircraft.

The airline has recently seen a lot of press when it comes to its decarbonisation plans for the future and is now first-hand offering an airline operator’s perspective on the development of the hydrogen technology that could power the future of flights.

In November, the airline announced that it has joined Race to Zero, a global UN-backed campaign to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. Further to that, in 2019, it became the first major airline worldwide to offset the carbon emissions from the fuel used for all its flights, and currently remains the only major airline in Europe to do so.

David Morgan, Director of Flight Operations at easyJet, said, “easyJet remains absolutely committed to sustainable flying and a towards a future with zero-emission flying. We know that technology is a key driver to achieve our decarbonisation targets with hydrogen propulsion a frontrunner for short-haul airlines like easyJet.

“We are dedicated to working with industry leading partners to support the development of these promising new technologies and we look forward collaborating with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions to support bringing this technology to maturity as early as possible.”

Based in the UK, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions is currently developing a hydrogen propulsion system for an existing nine-seater Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, which it hopes to hit the skies by 2023. H2VIEW - link - Molly Burgess - link - easyjet sustainability - link - more like this - link

(MAR) POTENTIAL H2 FUELLED VERSION OF EMD 2 STROKE

The current, EPA Tier 4 compliant, EMD two stroke has been progressively evolved since 1933. Could its next iteration be hydrogen fueled?

Could a hydrogen-fueled version of the Electro-Motive Diesel two-stroke engine, long a U.S. marine industry work horse, be in the works? 

These days, the EMD engine is produced by Caterpillar’s Progress Rail subsidiary, which will play a key role in a collaboration between Chevron U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), and Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) that was announced yesterday.

One goal of the collaboration is to confirm the feasibility and performance of hydrogen for use as a commercially viable alternative to traditional fuels for line-haul rail and marine vessels. 

As part of the collaboration, and facilitated by Progress Rail, the parties also agreed to demonstrate a hydrogen-fueled locomotive and associated hydrogen-fueling infrastructure. Work on the rail demonstration will begin immediately at various locations across the United States - link - Nick Blenkey - link - more like this - link