Hydrogen-Combined Smart Electrical Power Systems: An Overview of United States Projects

The integration of hydrogen in smart grids offers key benefits such as energy storage, sector coupling, and decentralized generation. By utilizing hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, smart grids can enhance grid flexibility, support the integration of various energy sectors, and contribute to decarbonization efforts for a sustainable energy future. In this case, a comprehensive overview of U.S. projects focused on integrating hydrogen technologies into smart electrical power systems is presented in this chapter, highlighting the significance of green hydrogen (GH2) and its role in shaping the future of the power sector. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) plays a pivotal role in advancing GH2 technologies, encompassing projects in hydrogen production, storage, fuel cells, and integrated energy systems. Collaborative efforts through the Western Green Hydrogen Initiative aim to establish a regional GH2 economy in the western United States. Utilizing existing industrial infrastructure, the Gulf Coast Clean Energy Application Center facilitates GH2 development along the Gulf Coast by identifying opportunities, supporting project development, and fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders. The Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative focuses on Hawaii’s ambitious renewable energy goals and explores the integration of GH2 through demonstration projects and sector collaboration. Supported by the California Energy Commission, the California Hydrogen Infrastructure Project focuses on developing hydrogen infrastructure, including refueling stations and the deployment of fuel-cell electric vehicles. The Los Angeles Green Hydrogen Power-to-Gas Project converts excess renewable electricity to hydrogen through electrolysis, injecting it into the natural gas pipeline system for power generation, heating, and transportation. The Advanced Clean Energy Storage (ACES) Project aims to enhance grid reliability, integrate renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the development of large-scale GH2 production facilities for power generation and transportation. Projects in Hawaii and Utah integrate wind and solar power with hydrogen production and storage, providing flexible and dispatchable energy resources. Additional projects include the New York Offshore Wind-to-Hydrogen Project, which utilizes offshore wind energy for GH2 production, and initiatives in the Pacific Northwest and Texas Gulf Coast regions that leverage renewable resources and industrial infrastructure to establish hydrogen hubs. Accordingly, these U.S. projects demonstrate the advancements in hydrogen-combined smart electrical power systems. GH2 technologies have the potential to drive a sustainable and resilient energy future, enabling the integration of renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in smart sustainable cities and grids.