Global investments in clean hydrogen are increasing rapidly, and the United States is currently leading that surge. Of the 75 projects announced in Q1 2022, 51% were U.S.-based. Notably, the newly announced projects increased the cumulative global pipeline by 20%, with over two-thirds of that growth concentrated in six leading countries, including the U.S. Let’s take a closer look at some recent U.S. projects driving hydrogen growth.

Driving A Global Hydrogen Fleet

While Anglo American’s hydrogen-powered mine haul truck (the world’s largest) was recently unveiled at the company’s mine in Mogalakwena, South Africa, the truck’s hydrogen powertrain was actually designed and tested in the United States. Anglo American worked with energy utility Engie SA, hydrogen storage company NPROXX BV, fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems, and American creative engineering firm First Mode Holdings Inc. to develop the various components for the vehicle. The hydrogen fuel cell and lithium-ion battery powerplant for the 200-ton, three-story-tall truck were designed and tested at First Mode’s Seattle headquarters, and then implemented on-site at the mine.

The truck is the first of a fleet that will replace all of Anglo American’s current diesel-powered mine trucks, which currently make up 80% of the company’s diesel emissions. It’s also a crucial element of the company’s nuGen™ Zero Emission Haulage Solution (ZEHS), which includes solar powerplants and electrolyzer installations. These solutions are a key step toward the company’s plans to make eight of their mines carbon neutral by 2030.

Enabling Large-Scale Decarbonization

Linde and BP’s recently announced joint venture to develop a carbon capture project on the Texas Gulf Coast will enable the gas supplier to produce low-carbon hydrogen for consumers across its Houston-area pipeline network. BP will identify and develop the storage sites, while Linde’s gas compression technologies and operational expertise will facilitate the capture and compression of carbon from their hydrogen production facilities.

With an operational date projected as early as 2026, the project plans to have 15 million metric tons of carbon capacity per year, stored across a number of onshore geologic storage sites to utilize the region’s natural benefits. The project’s large capacity and location on the Gulf Coast – a region with significant hydrogen investment and opportunity – will enable large-sale decarbonization by sequestering carbon from multiple industrial facilities in addition to Linde’s.

Meeting Global Clean Energy Demand

CF Industries, the world’s largest ammonia producer, is partnering with Mitsui & Co. on a new greenfield ammonia production facility, which will produce ammonia with less than 40% the emissions of traditional production in order to meet rising global demand for the gas. Ammonia has a critical role to play in global decarbonization because of its versatility. Ammonia is rich in nitrogen, a critical component for the fertilizers necessary to produce the world’s food supply. The gas is also a hydrogen carrier and can be used as a clean fuel itself. CF’s new plant is expected to produce between 1 and 1.4 million tons of ammonia each year, with the companies planning to export the decarbonized ammonia as fuel for long-haul shipping, and as a clean power alternative for coal-dependent countries like Japan and Korea.

These projects are just a subset of the rapid hydrogen investments both in the U.S. and around the world. With investments in hydrogen production, technology, and storage, as well as partnerships to decrease hydrogen’s cost per kilogram and increase hydrogen-powered fuel cell heavy duty vehicle portfolios.