Between the Coasts: Ohio
Connor Dolan
As covered in our recent piece on developments in Utah, while the two U.S. coasts often receive much of the buzz on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, more and more activity in this transformative sector is taking place in middle America. Between policy and rapid construction of infrastructure, the coasts are experiencing momentum that will catapult the technology into the mainstream. However, states in between the coasts are building a reputation of solid support for hydrogen and fuel cells and should not be overlooked. Today, we look at Ohio, the home to a leading industrial research core advancing fuel cell and hydrogen technologies across the entire supply chain.
The Department of Energy (DOE), in its State of the States: Fuel Cells in America report series (2010-2017), repeatedly singled out Ohio as a leading state for hydrogen and fuel cells, based in part because many companies involved in the industry supply chain are located there.
Another excellent example of Ohio’s leadership is through the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) in Canton, Ohio. SARTA has received several grants, both federal and state, to support the development of fuel cell bus fleets and related hydrogen infrastructure, with the first fuel cell bus debuting in 2017 at Ohio State University. The planned fleet of 18 buses will become of the largest in the nation, SARTA has expressed its appreciation of the fuel cell busses by taking a bus on tour to Washington, DC to promote to other transit agencies.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, has bolstered its research into hydrogen and fuel cells. When NASA first sent men to the moon, fuel cells were used to provide electricity to onboard functions, as they were reliable and efficient for the voyages. Now, NASA hopes to update fuel cell technology for use in modern-day missions. Fuel cells are lighter than batteries and would reduce cost of sending equipment into space. NASA is extremely interested in regenerative fuel cell that can operate in reverse, producing hydrogen and oxygen from solar panels once in space. NASA is boosting the involvement of industry within the state, such as Petra Power, a manufacturer of solid oxide fuel cells.
Ohio’s connection between industry and government lies within FCHEA member Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC). OFCC brings together state industry, academic, and governmental leaders to promote public awareness, industry networking, and state funding.
DOE Invests in Nuclear Hydrogen Production at David-Besse Power Stations
The state is home to projects exploring new ways to produce hydrogen cleanly, namely repurposing nuclear power plants to generate electricity for electrolysis. In September 2019, DOE announced an investment of more than $9 million to install an electrolyzer at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station in Oak Harbor, Ohio. In addition to the DOE investment, other partners will contribute funding for a total project value of almost $11.5 million. The project, referred to as “Light Water Reactor (LWR) Integrated Energy Systems Interface Technology Development & Demonstration,” will not only boost hydrogen production for the state of Ohio, but also encourage others of pursuing nuclear energy as a pathway to carbon-free hydrogen. To learn more about how repurposed nuclear plants can produce hydrogen, read FCHEA’s blog post.
Plug Power Opens Fuel Cell Service Center in Dayton
FCHEA member Plug Power is a world leader supplying fuel cells for a range of vehicles, stationary applications, as well as hydrogen fueling systems. In October 2016, Plug Power recognized the prospects of hydrogen opportunities in Ohio, and opened a service center in Dayton, Ohio. The opening was well-received by Ohio, with support from many levels of government, realizing the economic and environmental benefits of the technology. The service center has Plug Power’s reach to Ohio customers: warehouses using its fuel cell forklift engines run by Walmart, Ace Hardware, Home Depot, and FCHEA member Honda. One of the only three commercial fuel cell vehicle manufacturers in the United States, Honda has taken the opportunity to support hydrogen and fuel cell technology by using Plug Power fuel cell forklifts in its Marysville, Ohio, manufacturing plant.
Ohio has clearly demonstrated itself as one of the top states promoting hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. With participation from industry, academia, and the government, Ohio is positioned to grow clean technology and spread it to other midwestern states. FCHEA is excited to see what comes next for the state of Ohio.
Click here for the previous installment of Between the Coasts.