Great Lakes Clean Hydrogen
University of Toledo's Involvement
- National Lab Day - October 2019 meeting with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Director, Mark Peters
- Work with INL and Davis-Besse on hydrogen project - Fall 2019
- Expansion to other sources of hydrogen (nuclear and solar) and regional demand for low-carbon hydrogen (<2 kg CO2/kg H2)
- Preparation for expected competition for hydrogen hub
- Ensure that Toledo and Midwest is a leader in the transition to a hydrogen economy
Activities to Date
- Stakeholder Workshops
- January 2020, December 2021, January 2022
- July 2021 - Submitted Response to Deptment of Energy (DOE) Request For Information (RFI)
- Summer 2021 - Organized a team to prepare for the DOE Hub Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
- March 2021 - Submitted Response to a second clean hydrgen DOE RFI
- Great Lakes Clean Hydrogen Coalition focus on low-carbon hydrogen production from
nuclear power supplemented by solar power
- Teams formed to address: Commercialization, DEI | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, R&D | Research and Development
What We Have Learned
• Across the board industry commitments to decarbonization
• Low-carbon H2 demand by industry is enormous in region
• Oxygen also of industry interest
• Major technical questions need support from national laboratories, industry and universities
• Mitigation of transition costs to hydrogen economy critical for implementation
• Toledo and Ohio-Midwest region well positioned as focus of hydrogen hub
• Demonstration project underway at Davis-Besse—shovel ready projects
Engaged Participants
DOE National Laboratories
- Idaho
- Pacific Northwest
- Lawrence Livermore
- Argonne
Higher Education
- The University of Toledo
- Case Western Reserve University
- Michigan Technical University
- Owens Community College
- Discussions with:
- University of Michigan
- Ohio State University
Industry
- General Electric Aviation
- Energy Harbor
- First Solar
- Linde
- Nexceris
- Oregon Clean Energy
- Cleveland Cliffs
- Plug Power
- Rudolph Libbe | GEM
- Nooter Toledo
- North Star Bluescope Steel
- NEL
- Swagelok
- GEM Industrial, Inc.
Others
- Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition
- Toledo Area Regional Transit Autority | TARTA
- Regional Growth Partnership
- ConnecToledo
RegionAL Clean Hydrogen Hub
Demostrate the production of clean hydrogen with a focus on nuclear and solar energy primary sources
- Advantages
- Ultra-pure hydrogen
- Meets DOE standards
- No sequestration of CO2 required
- Immediately available with projects under development
- Compared to hydrogen from fossil fuels
- Challenge to meet DOE requirements for CO2 emissions
- Expensive and difficult to sequester CO2
Major Hydrogen Consumers | Toledo and Ohio
- Cleveland Cliffs steel plants in Toledo and Cleveland
- General Electric - Cincinnati
- Oil Refineries
- Glass Industry
- Nation's largest producer of solar panels
- Warehouses for forklifts and Plug Power support
- Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority | TARTA
- Ammonia Production - Lima
- Intel Microelectronic Plant - Columbus
- Methanol Production
- Proximity to Transportation Modalities - Rail | Marine | Airports
Why the Great Lakes
- Production of high-purity hydrogen
- 20,500 MW of nuclear energy generation in the Great Lakes region
- Hydrogen potential of 8,900-12,300 tons per day from electrolysis
- Excellent electricity grid support for power purchase agreements
- Robust pipeline infrastructure
- Solar fields and wind farms
- Reduction in harmful air emissions through nuclear or renewable powered electrolysis of water
Why Toledo and Ohio
- Highly skilled union workforce
- Strong engineering construction firms
- Industry experience working with hydrogen (including support from industrial gas suppliers)
- Excellent support from higher education institutions
- Workforce development programs
- Local research support connected to national laboratories
- Many strong engineering programs
- Investments can address local DEI and Environmental Justice needs
Our Vision
- Northern Ohio-Southern Michigan is central to a Great Lakes Hydrogen Hub
- High purity hydrogen required for fuel cells, microelectronics and other applications with near-zero CO2 emissions
- Rapid deployment without need for carbon capture & sequestration
- University research centers linked to national labs to support regional industry in transition
- University leadership in DEI and Environmental Justice
- An alliance of major corporations, universities and national labs to lead and manage the Hub
Our Plan
- Submit concept paper to DOE FOA (Fall, 2022) in response to June 6 Notice of Intent
- Form new Ohio non-profit entity driven by industry leadership
- Submit proposal for hub Spring, 2023 requesting $1.25 billion
- Solicit state support to assist industry investments
- Develop R&D center at University of Toledo connected with national laboratories and other universities
- Integrate DEI impact with hydrogen deployment investments, workforce development and R&D center activities
- Look for immediate projects and long-term opportunities (beyond life of Hub award)
For more information
Frank Calzonetti, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
UToledo Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Office: 419.530.4749 | Email: Frank.Calzonetti@UToledo.edu