Puget Sound Energy is partnering to develop a road map for a hydrogen ecosystem
Green hydrogen is set to play more of a role in the Evergreen State, with the recent announcement of a partnership between Puget Sound Energy and Fortescue Future Industries aimed at accelerating the growth of Washington state’s hydrogen ecosystem.
Through the partnership, PSE is seeking to establish a framework for potential green hydrogen supply agreements from FFI’s proposed green hydrogen production facility in Centralia, Washington. The facility would repurpose the existing fossil fuel infrastructure of a former coal mine to create green hydrogen at scale.
“Lower-carbon fuels like hydrogen have the potential to transform the energy landscape and help utilities like PSE solve some of the biggest challenges with the transition to clean energy,” Steve Schueneman, hydrogen development manager at PSE, told American Gas. “Being the largest investor-owned utility in Washington state, we believe we have an important role to play in developing the hydrogen economy and fostering innovation in this space.”
The partnership assists PSE with its goal of becoming a Beyond Net Zero Carbon company by 2045.
According to Schueneman, becoming Beyond Net Zero means that PSE will target reducing its own carbon emissions to net-zero while going beyond by helping other sectors across the state of Washington reduce their carbon emissions. Paths to this goal include achieving net-zero carbon emissions for all PSE electric supply and gas and electric operations by 2030, net-zero emissions from natural gas sales by 2045, and helping transportation and other sectors reduce emissions.
PSE is looking closely at green hydrogen to help decarbonize its power generation portfolio and natural gas distribution system. As a zero-carbon, flexible resource, hydrogen could play a pivotal role in reducing emissions and maintaining grid stability on the electric system by serving as a “peaking resource.” It can also play a role in decarbonizing the gas system by blending with natural gas into the existing pipeline infrastructure.
“Right now, we are developing our road map and understanding the technical requirements, community engagement and regulatory aspects of what this change could entail,” Schueneman said. “Because hydrogen is relatively new as a viable energy source, we are also continuing to engage with external policymakers and participate in regional collaborative efforts wherever possible.”
PSE plans to spend the next two to three years executing pilot projects, with the goal to be prepared to accept blended gas into its system toward the end of the decade.