Hy Stor Energy LP and Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure (CC&L) are partnering to develop what they claim will be the first-ever zero-carbon green hydrogen storage hub in the United States.

The proposed Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub reportedly will be up to 10 times larger than any other U.S. green hydrogen project and rank among the world’s largest such endeavors. Additionally, Hy Stor touts the long-duration hydrogen hub as a “model for our nation’s green hydrogen development efforts going forward.”

Unlike blue hydrogen, which uses natural gas as a feedstock, green hydrogen is produced with renewable energy and electrolysis. 

According to CC&L, electrolysis needs only two inputs to produce hydrogen — water and renewably sourced electricity. The only byproduct is oxygen. The firm maintains that green hydrogen can enable decarbonization in industries and jurisdictions where direct electrification is impractical.

“It will deliver a major source of safe, reliable and 100% carbon-free energy that is flexible and available on demand,” CC&L stated regarding the green hydrogen hub.

How Much Green Hydrogen Could Be Produced?

According to Hy Stor, the Mississippi project’s initial phase will likely produce an estimated 110 million kilograms (kg) of green hydrogen per year and store more than 70 million kg of green hydrogen in underground salt caverns. The project, it said, is under active development.. 

CC&L observed that Hy Stor is already permitted for hydrogen storage at multiple Gulf Coast locations, providing a regional hydrogen hub backbone. The hub is to offer co-located production, transmission, pipeline, rail and other infrastructure to drive economies of scale and draw end-users, the company added.

“Green hydrogen will play a vital role in the decarbonization of our global societies by offering a viable pathway towards zero emissions,” said Hy Stor Chief Commercial Officer Claire Behar. “Hy Stor Energy will serve customers across a variety of industries including transportation, power generation and difficult-to-decarbonize sectors, such as manufacturing and industrial, where green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels.”

In addition to favorable geology, Mississippi boasts a strategic location, abundant water and renewable energy availability and proximity to multimodal transportation infrastructure, Hy Stor stated. 

“In an era of increasingly frequent extreme weather, it’s imperative to have the ability to store large quantities of renewable energy capable of providing multiple days of power over long periods of high demand,” said Hy Stor CEO Laura L. Luce. 

“We believe the approach we’re taking in Mississippi will become the blueprint for future green hydrogen projects that not only address the energy transition challenges we face but also bring new jobs, economic revitalization and low-cost energy to communities in the region. We see this as an important way of advancing U.S. climate leadership.”

The green hydrogen sector is approaching “an important inflection point,” said CC&L Infrastructure President Matt O’Brien.

“The partnership with Hy Stor Energy is a natural evolution of our long-term investment strategy that builds upon our existing expertise in renewable energy,” said O’Brien. “Through this partnership, CC&L Infrastructure and its clients will gain access to a number of attractive investments in a rapidly growing renewable sub-sector as well as technical expertise in green hydrogen and energy storage.”

Mississippi Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann applauded Tuesday’s announcement by Hy Stor and CC&L.

“Mississippi’s well-established and robust energy network is strategically positioned to support Hy Stor Energy and the growth of a Mississippi hydrogen hub,” he said. “We welcome this innovative opportunity to share our unique salt dome storage capacity and our trained workforce.”

Hy Stor expects the project’s development and commercialization phases to generate “hundreds of new jobs” and lure new manufacturing and industrial companies to Mississippi.

“We’re excited to welcome Hy Stor Energy and hydrogen innovators to Mississippi,” said Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives Philip Gunn. “Their investment and eventual success here will improve workforce development, bring high-paying jobs to our state and encourage other businesses to invest in the talent and infrastructure we’ve built together.”

Pending regulatory approvals and equipment availability, the hub’s first phase is projected to enter commercial service by 2025.