“I believe the Advanced Clean Energy Storage Project is groundbreaking and will demonstrate hydrogen’s potential at scale.” That’s Prerna Jain’s take on the hydrogen storage project, also known as the Advanced Clean Energy Storage (ACES) project. The ACES project will convert renewable energy to hydrogen and then store it for later use. Jain is Chevron’s integration and growth manager for the effort.

Why it matters. Hydrogen will be key to the U.S. energy future. It is expected to be 12% of the global energy mix by 2050. It can help increase the use and availability of lower carbon energy. Chevron is responding to the demand for lower carbon intensity hydrogen. Austin Knight, Chevron’s vice president of Hydrogen, recently chaired the coordinating subcommittee for the National Petroleum Council's report Harnessing hydrogen: A key element of the U.S. energy future. 

“This project helps meet the need for dispatchable lower carbon power generation,” he said. “In Delta, Utah, where the project is situated, salt caverns will allow for seasonal energy storage. ACES Delta is near regional renewable power sources, transmission and distribution infrastructure, and demand markets. We are optimistic it will support U.S. climate goals by providing hydrogen as an alternative to higher carbon intensity fuel options.”

The ACES hydrogen project is expected to begin commercial operation in 2025. It will supply hydrogen to the Intermountain Power Agency for its IPP Renewed Project, which aims to transition to lower carbon power generation.

Storing hydrogen at the site allows it to be dispatched as needed. This, in turn, allows for a higher use of renewables in the energy mix. The first project could generate up to 100 metric tonnes of hydrogen per day that will be stored in salt caverns.

“Chevron is bringing its expertise in project execution; safe, reliable operations; and building large energy value chains to ACES,” Jain said. “We are learning a lot from executing the first project at ACES—this experience sets us up with a competitive advantage as we develop other lower carbon hydrogen opportunities.”