AtkinsRéalis, a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world, is supporting the Pacific Northwest H₂ Association (PNWH2) which recently announced it will receive up to $27.5 MM as part of its Phase 1 award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). AtkinsRéalis is providing Project Management Office (PMO) services to PNWH2 after successfully leading its proposal development to the DOE for a network of clean H₂ suppliers and end users in the Pacific Northwest.

“Our world-class expertise, capabilities and technology are perfectly positioned to help our clients unlock the full potential of clean H₂ across the entire value chain and take advantage of this once in a generation investment in clean energy and jobs in America,” said Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis. “The PNWH2 projects are at the forefront of developing green H₂ as a key component of a net zero energy future.”

PNWH2 is one of the first Regional Clean H₂ Hubs to move onto Phase 1 which includes initial planning, permitting and analysis of activities to ensure technical and financial viability of the program as well as community and labor engagement. The goal of the Pacific Northwest H₂ Hub is to incorporate multiple projects across Washington, Oregon and Montana to produce enough clean H₂ to eliminate 1.7 MM metric tpy of carbon emissions, equivalent to the emissions of 400,000 gasoline powered cars. PNWH2 Hub H₂ will be created by using clean source hydroelectricity to separate H₂ and oxygen from water, then using the H₂ as fuel to help decarbonize heavy industry and transportation.

AtkinsRéalis was handpicked by the PNWH2 Hub based on its vast worldwide H₂ technology experience, experience managing large DOE projects, the company’s commitment to creating a clean energy future, and the location of its large engineering offices in Richland and Kirkland, Washington.

“We are excited to advance the DOE mission and participate in a truly historical moment in engineering,” said Joe McBrearty, Interim President, AtkinsRéalis US Nuclear. “It’s critical that we strategically plan and deploy our toolbox of technologies to deliver practical fit-for-purpose solutions to move from concept to delivery.”

AtkinsRéalis will manage the PNWH2 Hub contract from its newly completed AtkinsRéalis Technology Center in Richland, Washington. The PNWH2 Hub is expected to create more than 10,000 well-paying jobs driving economic opportunity and stronger energy security to improve the lives and futures of people throughout the region.