Hartford Business Journal

26 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 27, 2023 which was part of the Bipartisan Infra- structure Law's focus on hydrogen as an important clean energy source to fight climate change. A seven-state consortium — led by New York and including Connecticut and the rest of New England except New Hampshire, plus New Jersey — was not among seven hubs selected to share $7 billion. The Biden administration estimates the hubs will spur another $40 billion in private investment and create tens of thousands of jobs. Giordano said it was surprising to see the Northeastern region left out, given its leadership role in the industry. However, HyAxiom still may benefit from the program, he said, because it has fuel cell plants in both California and the mid-Atlantic, which were selected for hydrogen hub investment. "We feel like we may be able to participate even in the other hubs that were selected, based on our tech- nology," Giordano said. "People are going to need fuel cells, they're going to need electrolyzers, they're going to need to make hydrogen, and we feel like we can be in that space." The Northeast's snub from the hydrogen hub program surprised many in Connecticut who have connections to the industry. "We were more surprised than disappointed in the Northeast not being selected," said Joel M. Rine- bold, director of energy at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology. "The Northeast hydrogen fuel cell industry is very strong. In fact, it's recognized not only as a U.S. leader, but as a global leader in new technology." Another major industry player in the state is Danbury-based FuelCell Energy. Rinebold said he agrees that Connecticut will still benefit from the hydrogen hub program indirectly. "Connecticut can't lose because all the other regions that did win funding for hub development will require some of the products made in Connecticut — Connecticut will not be shut out of this," he said. "Connecticut will remain the produc- tion center for the technology that the other hubs will be using." New technologies HyAxiom is using the $150 million it raised earlier this year for research and development of new products — like its new PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) electrolyzer system — and to upgrade its South Windsor facility to handle a larger, more complex workload, officials said. "We're preparing the plant for higher technology items that are coming in," said Skor, the manufac- turing director. "So really, we're at a crossroads right now of updating the plant to produce much more technical projects as we go to electrolyzers and some of the different technologies we're going into." Chakulski said the PEM electro- lyzer system is a "high efficiency" machine that uses 1 megawatt of electricity to generate 431 kilograms of hydrogen a day. Hydrogen in something like a fuel cell is part of a clean electrochemical process that produces electricity and leaves only water and heat behind, no greenhouse gasses. To that end, hydrogen is viewed not far below solar and wind for how to lower greenhouse gas emissions. It is seen as especially useful in hard to decarbonize sectors such as long-haul trucking, ocean shipping, aviation fuel, large industrial oper- ations, fleet vehicles — especially those that operate indoors that would otherwise have emissions. The big goal is "green" hydrogen. That's hydrogen made from water, not methane, through an electrolyzer system powered by carbon-free energy like solar or wind. HyAxiom is developing a solid oxide power plant that can be repur- posed to run on a ship, Chakulski said, as the maritime industry takes larger steps toward decarbonizing. Another fuel cell project in the works relates to powering heavy-duty vehicles. HyAxiom was recently commis- sioned to build two fuel cell units for the University of Hartford, and has been picked for another project at York Correctional Institution in Niantic. A CT Mirror report was used in this story. Capacity of hydrogen electrolyser projects in development globally • Tailboard Loading Docks • 24 Hour Access • Single-Room to Multiroom Office Space Available • Ideal for Distribution, E-Commerce, Storage, Logistics and/or Delivery-Oriented Businesses • Immaculate Property • Scalable Warehouse Space Options Direct Trucking Access to Interstate-84 299 Industrial Lane Torrington, CT 06790 Source: Aurora Energy Research MAY 2021 NOV. 2022 APRIL 2023 NOV. 2023 1,200 GW 1,000 GW 800 GW 600 GW 400 GW 200 GW 0 CAPACITY

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