The PNHW2 Hub’s proposed projects, known as nodes, will work collectively to produce, store, transport, and utilize low-carbon hydrogen.
HUB PROJECT LOCATIONS
The proposed PNWH2 Hub spans eight project sites – five locations in Washington, two locations in Oregon and one location in Montana.
The final project locations of the PNWH2 Hub will be determined through negotiations with the U.S. Department of Energy. During this process, some aspects of the Hub’s scope and scale may change so limited information about the projects will be shared publicly. We will provide more details and collaborate with local communities and regulators on siting and permitting once locations are finalized.
PNWH2 Project Map
| Node | Expected Location | Expected End Use |
|---|---|---|
| Node 1 | Regional | Clean Energy and Heavy-Duty Transportation |
| Node 2 | Bellingham, WA | Heavy-Duty Transportation, Refining & Power Generation |
| Node 3 | Boardman, OR | Heavy-Duty Transportation |
| Node 4 | Richland, WA | Agriculture |
| Node 5 | Baker City, OR | Heavy-Duty Transportation |
| Node 6 | Boardman, OR | Clean Electricity Generation |
| Node 7 | Chehalis, WA | Public Transit |
| Node 8 | St. Regis, MT | Heavy- Duty Transportation |
A LONG-TERM EFFORT
The PNWH2 Project Timeline.
Establishing the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub will be a long-term effort with our proposed projects coming online as soon as feasible following the U.S. Department of Energy’s multi-phase process, including the government providing go/no-go decisions.
While hydrogen use is common, many of the infrastructure and connected systems to produce hydrogen from renewable sources and utilize clean hydrogen in our heavy transportation and other hard-to-reach industries do not exist yet. The national goal is to achieve a carbon-free electric grid by 2035 and a net zero emissions economy by 2050. This massive effort will require industry and government to take an all-hands-on-deck approach.
The timeline for H2Hubs has been defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. In alignment with this guidance, we are working to bring PNWH2 projects online as soon as possible.
Clean Hydrogen Hub Application Process
- November 2021 – The Infrastructure Law is signed into law by President Biden. The law appropriates $7 billion to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a nationwide network of Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs).
- March 2022 – The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association is incorporated.
- July 2022 – The first Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association Board of Directors meeting is held.
- November 2022 – The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association submits a Hub concept paper to the DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED).
- December 2022 – DOE encourages 33 of 79 organizations that submitted concept papers, including PNHW2 Hub, to prepare a full application for the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub Program Funding Opportunity Announcement.
- April 2023 – PNWH2 Hub submits its full application to DOE. The proposal is developed by a team of experts from each proposed project led by federal engineering, procurement and construction contractor AtkinsRealis. Guidance is provided by the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association Board of Directors and Advisory Committee, as well as through community and partner feedback.
- October 2023 – DOE selects PNWH2 Hub for negotiation of award.
- Summer 2024 – Final negotiations between DOE and selected Hubs are expected to conclude, officially authorizing each Hub to proceed with detailed project planning during Phase 1 starting in Q3 2024.
H2Hubs Phases
Phase 1 – Phase 1 is anticipated to last one year and will encompass initial planning and analysis activities to ensure that the overall H2Hub concept is technologically and financially viable, building on existing engagement with local communities to include further input from tribes and relevant partners and stakeholders.
Phase 2 – Phase 2 is anticipated to take up to two years and includes finalizing engineering designs and business development, site access, labor agreements, permitting, offtake agreements and community engagement activities.
Phase 3 – Phase 3 is anticipated to last approximately 2-4 years and will focus on the implementation – installation, integration and construction activities.
Phase 4 – Phase 4 is anticipated to take approximately 2-4 years and will ramp up the H2Hub to full operations, including data collection to analyze the H2Hub’s operations, performance and financial viability.
A PUBLIC + PRIVATE COLLABORATION
PNWH2 Project Funding.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Clean Hydrogen Hub initiative offers a rare opportunity to create public-private partnerships at a regional scale to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in carbon-intensive industries and bring high-paying clean energy careers here as part of a new hydrogen economy.
Both public and private companies have proposed projects for the PNWH2 Hub.
Although we are eligible to receive up to $1 billion in federal funding over four DOE-defined development phases spanning nine years, with $20 million allocated for Phase 1, DOE’s Hydrogen program requires each Hub to provide at least 50% or more of the total project cost. The final funding will be determined during negotiations with the DOE and over 75% of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub cost-share funds are expected to be provided by our private sector partners.
Within a decade, the federal investment will help lower hydrogen production costs in our region and nationwide and establish a network of clean production, storage and distribution infrastructure. Those advancements will accelerate the use of clean hydrogen.
Additionally, Washington state contributed $2 million in 2022 toward Hub planning, and Washington and Oregon provided resources and staff support for the PNWH2 Hub. Also, Washington committed an additional $20 million in state funding in 2024, contingent upon award.
We also expect hydrogen will be available for use by individuals and organizations in hard-to-decarbonize industries. The specific cost will be driven by operating and capital costs determined by final feedstock (electricity) contracts and factors such as materials and construction costs.
Projects: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a node?
The PNWH2 Hub calls our project sites “nodes.” Each node consists of one or more projects working together to produce, store, transport, and use low-carbon hydrogen.
How were the projects selected to be in the PNWH2 Hub?
In 2022, we issued three Requests for Interest (RFIs) for organizations to submit projects for review and potential inclusion in the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub.
Our Project Selection Committee recommended projects to the board that best met the Hub criteria provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, leveraged the region’s renewable resources and reflected the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association’s vision for strong collaboration with tribal and local communities and strong environmental justice programs.
Where will the hydrogen be used?
We plan to use all the clean hydrogen produced by the PNWH2 Hub in the Pacific Northwest. Strong greenhouse gas reduction and clean fuel policies mean that the Pacific Northwest will have a strong demand market for clean hydrogen.
What major end uses will be financially supported?
The PNWH2 Hub will create a robust network of clean, renewable hydrogen suppliers and end-users focused on some of the hardest-to-decarbonize sectors important to our region’s economy, such as hard-to-electrify heavy-duty transportation, port operations, agriculture and industrial operations.
Is aviation fuel included?
At this time, the PNWH2 Hub has no aviation-related projects as part of our proposal, although offtake customers may use our clean hydrogen at airports or to make sustainable aviation fuel. Keep in mind that this is a 10- to 15-year effort. We anticipate there may be a lot of change and discovery throughout the life of this endeavor, and we are excited to be part of the journey.
What steps will follow once the award negotiations process ends? What will happen with projects while awaiting the outcome of negotiations?
In the first year, our collective efforts will encompass detailed planning and analysis activities to ensure that the overall H2Hub concept is technologically and financially viable, building on existing engagement with local communities to include further input from tribes, partners and stakeholders. Then, the U.S. Department of Energy will evaluate the Hub’s activities and deliver a go/no-go decision for moving to Phase 2.
Phase 2 may last up to two years and includes finalizing engineering designs and business development, site access, labor agreements, permitting, offtake agreements and community engagement activities.
During Phase 3, approximately two to four years, the Hub will focus on the implementation – installation, integration and construction activities.
Finally, Phase 4, another two to four years, will ramp up the PNWH2 Hub to full operations, including data collection to analyze the Hub’s operations, performance and financial viability.
How will the PNWH2 Hub collaborate with the ARCHES2 Hub?
We see many opportunities as we work through negotiations and begin to finalize the PNWH2 Hub scope. One area highlighted by the DOE is through the creation of a hydrogen-enabled, clean, heavy-duty trucking corridor along the entire West Coast of the U.S.
In anticipation of receiving U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding, what preparations have projects been making? Were project roadmaps, site selections, and equipment purchases made assuming the proposal’s success?
The PNWH2 Hub and proposed projects have been selected for award negotiations, and all of the partners understand that some aspects of the Hub’s scope and scale may be modified. Detailed planning will begin after negotiations with DOE end. The first phase in this process will last approximately a year, and that is when in-depth planning and analysis activities will take place to provide assurance to DOE that the overall Clean Hydrogen Hub concept is technologically and financially viable, building on existing engagement with local communities to include further input from tribes, partners and stakeholders.