The Center for Sustainable Infrastructure (CSI) and the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance released the Pacific Northwest Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan, which offers a strategic agenda for policy, projects, and research to scale up renewable hydrogen (RH2) production and use in the region.

Renewable hydrogen production uses renewable electricity to create a non-polluting fuel for vehicles, vessels, industry and even homes. RH2 "stores" that electricity as a fuel that can be used in various applications and hard-to-decarbonize sectors. RH2 can provide a significant piece of the clean energy mix for the Northwest and beyond, and its production can generate jobs and economic value for the region.

The Action Plan makes two calls to action, backed by input from nearly 50 thought leaders and industry experts. The first call to action is to "Lead with Projects" that produce RH2 and deliver it to customers, and the second is to "Create a 10-Year RH2 Roadmap" that lays out RH2's role in the optimized energy portfolio of the future, and the steps to get there.  

"The purpose of the Action Plan is to accelerate the deployment of RH2 in the Pacific Northwest, and realize the climate, economic, environmental and social benefits that RH2 offers the region and the planet," said Rhys Roth, CSI's founder and the plan's primary author.

The organizations involved in developing the plan are already undertaking actions to advance RH2 deployment, including: 

• PACCAR is producing a limited number of hydrogen-powered semi-trucks in partnership with Toyota as a research and development project.
• Douglas Public Utility District in Washington is installing a 5-MW electrolyzer that will use surplus hydroelectricity to power the region's first major RH2 production facility.
• Mitsubishi Power Systems and Puget Sound Energy recently announced an agreement to collaborate on renewable hydrogen production, storage and pipeline facilities within PSE's service area.