SEDAC and the Midwestern Hydrogen Partnership are working to grow the hydrogen economy in the Midwest.

There is growing worldwide interest in developing and deploying new clean technologies that utilize hydrogen and fuel cells to combat global warming.  The Midwest has the intellectual capital, manufacturing capabilities, infrastructure and human capital necessary to compete for and win the jobs that will be created by an expanding hydrogen economy.  SEDAC has partnered with the U of I’s Grainger College of Engineering and Argonne National Labs to establish a Midwestern Hydrogen Partnership to promote the development and adoption of hydrogen technologies to enable clean, secure, and resilient energy sources, and create economic development opportunities throughout the Midwest.

Why Hydrogen?

Recent improvements and price declines associated with wind, solar and battery technologies have disrupted energy markets and created new hope for addressing the climate crisis.  However, challenges persist with respect to the intermittency of power generated by wind and solar systems.  Additionally, the need for large capacity energy storage options that are economical, equitable, and mobile, far exceeds anticipated advances in battery technology.  Hydrogen has the potential to play a vital role in meeting the energy storage needs required to slash CO2 emissions.  It is the most plentiful element in the universe and its capability as an effective energy carrier has been well understood for decades.

Hydrogen can be produced, stored, transported and used without toxic pollution or CO2 emissions. It burns clean when mixed with oxygen from the atmosphere and can be used as a source of heat or to power an internal combustion engine.  Hydrogen can also be fed into a fuel cell device that converts hydrogen’s chemical energy into electricity.  Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) are becoming increasingly popular in the transportation sector, particularly in large scale applications with high utilization rates such as busingtruckingrail and maritime.  Technologies that produce, store, transport and utilize hydrogen have now advanced to a point where hydrogen is emerging as a near-term option for applications in grid storage, transportation, metals refining, and heat for buildings and industrial applications.

Midwestern Hydrogen Partnership

The Midwestern Hydrogen Partnership is a collaboration of industrial, academic, research institutions, government, and other interested stakeholders that work cooperatively to enable the Midwest to address the challenges, barriers, and opportunities that can enable a prosperous hydrogen economy in the Midwest.

 

Hydrogen Resources

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Act Now on Hydrogen Energy

Read the latest Midwestern Hydrogen Partnership publication about how the hydrogen economy can support a healthy environment, economic development, and […]

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Why Hydrogen May be Renewable Energy’s Best Bet

Read Tim Lindsey's latest article, published in Industry Week, about why Hydrogen may be renewable energy's best bet.  

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The Emerging Hydrogen Economy and the Quest for Faster Horses

By Dr. Tim Lindsey From Faster Horses to Model Ts: Shortcomings of Today’s Energy System Legend has it that when […]

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Midwest Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Partnership

SEDAC, in collaboration with the Illinois Grainger College of Engineering, Argonne National Laboratory, and the College of Liberal Arts and […]