SLINGERLANDS, N.Y., Sept. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), a global leader in comprehensive hydrogen solutions for the green hydrogen economy, has been awarded $10 million by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to demonstrate next generation hydrogen refueling infrastructure for medium and heavy-duty vehicles at scale. Plug's project, HYPER-Fuel ("the project"), is a liquid-to-gaseous dispensing and cryogenic dispensing hydrogen refueling station architecture.
This funding is part of the DOE's $62 million investment in 20 projects across 15 states aimed at accelerating the deployment of next-generation clean hydrogen technologies. These initiatives will advance key aspects of hydrogen fueling infrastructure, demonstrate hydrogen-powered container-handling equipment for port operations, and enhance processes critical to the efficient, timely, and equitable implementation of hydrogen technologies.
In partnership with Washington State University (WSU), the University of Maryland at College Park, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Plug will develop a high-flow, direct-fill hydrogen fueling station. The dispensing station, based on Plug's GenFuel technology, will offer fueling rates exceeding 8 kg/min, a daily capacity of >2 tonnes, and options for both 350 and 700 bar pressurized hydrogen, including forward looking subcooled liquid and cryo-compressed hydrogen dispensing. The project aims to address the growing hydrogen infrastructure needs for on-road heavy-duty vehicles.
"We're grateful for the Department of Energy's support, which underscores Plug's leadership in the hydrogen sector," said Plug CEO Andy Marsh. "With over 250 high-performance refueling stations under our belt—more than any other company globally—our proven expertise positions us uniquely to lead this important commercial demonstration project."
"This station solves the chicken-or-egg conundrum holding back the hydrogen economy–with integrated cooling we can minimize boil-off losses, easing the barrier to adopting hydrogen fuel for heavy duty applications," said Jacob Leachman, who heads up Washington State University's Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research (HYPER) Laboratory. "The research and testing opportunities will significantly advance the field. We couldn't be more excited to partner with Plug again on DOE projects."
As the primary partner, Plug will oversee engineering, construction, operation, and training. WSU will leverage its advanced cryogenics lab to develop and optimize thermofluid models for the station and will act as the end-use operator. NREL will investigate leakage and sensor technologies, while the University of Maryland will evaluate safety risks and reliability. Engineering will be managed by Plug's team at its Vista headquarters in Slingerlands, NY, with support from its Cryogenics R&D facility in Colfax, WA.
This project focuses on demonstrating these advanced technologies as commercially viable solutions. Rather than conducting R&D as part of the project, Plug will build a fueling station in Pullman, Washington that is expected to be operational in 2026—and could ultimately fuel WSU and community vehicles. This model of the station could also be replicated in New York and nationwide to meet growing refueling demands and support broader adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology. WSU-Pullman and the Pacific NorthWest is an ideal location for this project as there is significant momentum building around the Pacific Northwest H2 Hub, which Plug is also a partner in, and Washington State's zero-emission vehicle mandate by 2035, which the university must meet.
"This historic federal research funding is further proof that Plug is leading the world in hydrogen technology. I couldn't be prouder that this work is centered, right here, in Upstate New York," said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
"Plug Power is a pioneer in clean energy innovation, and this grant helps cement the Capital Region's role at the forefront of the transition to a green energy economy," said Senator Gillibrand. "I'm proud to see the Department of Energy make this $10 million investment and look forward to continuing to work with Plug Power to build a green future."
"Clean hydrogen offers us a chance to secure a clean energy future, but these opportunities can only be realized with robust, forward-thinking federal investments," Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) said. "That's why I've worked hard throughout my time in Congress to drive investments in clean hydrogen research and development. I'm thrilled that Plug Power will be playing this central role in developing our innovation economy, and I'll continue to do all I can to support their powerful work and secure our nation's leadership in clean energy technologies."
"Our nation's clean hydrogen economy is coming into focus, but there is still important work to do in advancing the national strategy and underlying technologies," noted Dr. Sunita Satyapal, director of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office and coordinator of the DOE Hydrogen Program. "These selected projects will play a crucial role in advancing technologies for hydrogen fueling infrastructure and port operations, and they will complement other investments by the Biden-Harris administration in clean hydrogen. The advances achieved by these projects will help grow markets for clean hydrogen in hard-to-decarbonize sectors of America's economy, such as heavy industry and heavy-duty transportation."
Earlier this year, Plug was selected by the DOE for a total of nine awards for Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis, Manufacturing, and Recycling Activities under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These awards highlight Plug's industry leadership and commitment to developing the green hydrogen economy.
About Plug
Plug is building an end-to-end green hydrogen ecosystem, from production, storage, and delivery to energy generation, to help its customers meet their business goals and decarbonize the economy. In creating the first commercially viable market for hydrogen fuel cell technology, the company has deployed more than 69,000 fuel cell systems and over 250 fueling stations, more than anyone else in the world, and is the largest buyer of liquid hydrogen.
With plans to operate a green hydrogen highway across North America and Europe, Plug built a state-of-the-art Gigafactory in Rochester, NY to produce electrolyzers and fuel cells and is developing multiple green hydrogen production plants targeting commercial operation by year-end 2028. Plug delivers its green hydrogen solutions directly to its customers and through joint venture partners into multiple environments, including material handling, e-mobility, power generation, and industrial applications.
2024年9月5日(全球新聞)-- Plug Power Inc.(納斯達克股票代碼:PLUG)是綠色氫經濟領域綜合氫解決方案的全球領先者,已獲得美國能源部(DOE)1000萬美元的資助,以展示中重型車輛規模的下一代氫燃料電池充電基礎設施。Plug的HYPER-Fuel項目是一種液氣混合分配和低溫分配氫燃料電池充電站架構。
此項資金是美國能源部對15個州的20個項目投資6200萬美元的一部分,旨在加速推廣下一代清潔氫技術。這些計劃將推進氫燃料基礎設施的關鍵方面,展示用於港口運營的氫動力集裝箱裝卸設備,並改進對高效、及時和公平實施氫技術至關重要的過程。 與華盛頓州立大學(WSU)、馬里蘭大學帕克學院(University of Maryland at College Park)和國家可再生能源實驗室(NREL)合作,Plug將開發一種高流量的直接注入氫燃料加註站。這個加註站基於Plug的GenFuel技術,將提供超過8千克/分鐘的加註速率,每日容量超過2噸,包括350和700巴壓力氫氣的選擇,包括前瞻性的亞冷液態和低溫壓縮氫氣加註。該項目旨在解決道路重型車輛日益增長的氫基礎設施需求。
Plug CEO安迪·馬歇爾表示:「我們對能源部的支持表示感謝,這凸顯了Plug在氫能源領域的領導地位。我們已經擁有超過250個高性能加油站,超過全球任何其他公司,我們的專業知識使我們獨特地領導了這個重要的商業示範項目。」
華盛頓州立大學氫能源研究(HYPER)實驗室的負責人雅各布·利奇曼表示:「該加油站解決了阻礙氫能源發展的雞生蛋還是蛋生雞的難題——通過整體冷卻,我們可以最大限度地減少沸騰損失,降低採用氫氣燃料用於重型應用的壁壘。」「研究和測試機會將極大推進該領域的發展。我們非常高興再次與Plug合作進行能源部的項目。」
作爲主要合作伙伴,Plug將負責工程、施工、運營和培訓。華盛頓州立大學將利用其先進的低溫實驗室開發和優化加油站的熱流體模型,並擔任最終用戶運營商。國家可再生能源實驗室將調查泄漏和傳感器技術,而馬里蘭大學將評估安全風險和可靠性。工程將由Plug的團隊在其紐約斯林格蘭茲市Vista總部管理,其在華盛頓州科爾法克斯市的低溫研發設施提供支持。
該項目旨在展示這些先進技術作爲商業可行的解決方案。Plug將在華盛頓州普爾曼建造一座加油站,預計2026年投入運營,最終將爲華盛頓州立大學和社區車輛提供燃料。該加油站的模型也可以在紐約和全國範圍內複製,以滿足日益增長的加油需求,支持更廣泛的氫燃料電池技術採用。普爾曼的WSU和太平洋西北地區是這個項目的理想地點,因爲圍繞太平洋西北H2中心正在形成重要的趨勢,並且華盛頓州到2035年要求零排放車輛,大學必須滿足。”
這項歷史性的聯邦科研資助進一步證明了普拉格在氫能技術領域的領先地位。美國參議院多數黨領袖查克·舒默說:「這項工作正是在紐約州北部展開的,我爲此感到無比驕傲。」
普拉格能源是清潔能源創新的先驅,這項資助有助於鞏固首都地區在向綠色能源經濟轉型的最前沿的角色。”蓋利布蘭德參議員說:「我爲能源部進行這項1000萬美元的投資感到自豪,並期待繼續與普拉格能源合作,共同打造綠色未來。」
清潔氫爲我們提供了確保清潔能源未來的機會,但這些機遇只有在聯邦政府做出強有力、前瞻性的投資的情況下才能實現。”紐約州第20區國會議員保羅·湯科說:「這就是爲什麼我一直在國會任職期間努力推動對清潔氫研發的投資。我對普拉格能源將在發展創新經濟中發揮着關鍵作用感到激動,我將繼續盡我所能支持他們的重要工作,確保我們國家在清潔能源技術領域的領導地位。」
美國能源部(DOE)氫能與燃料電池技術辦公室主任、DOE氫計劃協調員Sunita Satyapal博士指出:「我們國家的清潔氫經濟正在顯現,但在推進國家戰略和基礎技術方面仍需重要工作。」他還提到:「這些項目的進展將有助於在美國經濟中難以脫碳的重工業和重型運輸等領域拓展清潔氫市場。這些項目的進展將有助於在美國經濟中難以脫碳的重工業和重型運輸等領域拓展清潔氫市場。這些項目的進展將有助於在美國經濟中難以脫碳的重工業和重型運輸等領域拓展清潔氫市場。」
今年早些時候,Plug被美國能源部選中,共獲得九個獎項,用於清潔氫電解、製造和回收活動,獎項的獲得突顯了Plug在行業領導地位和發展綠色氫能經濟的承諾。
關於Plug
Plug正在構建一個全流程的綠色氫氣生態系統,從生產、儲存和輸送到能源發電,幫助其客戶實現業務目標並推進經濟的脫碳,以帶動綠色氫氣市場的發展。該公司通過打造第一個商業上可行的氫燃料電芯技術市場,已在全球部署了超過69,000個燃料電芯系統和超過250個加氫站,比其他任何公司都多,並且是液氫最大的買家。
Plug計劃在北美和歐洲建設綠色氫能之路,已在紐約羅切斯特建立了一家最先進的超級工廠,生產電解裝置和燃料電池,並計劃在2028年底前投入商業運營多個綠色氫能生產設施。Plug直接向客戶提供綠色氫能解決方案,並通過合資企業夥伴引入多個環境中,包括物料搬運、電動出行、發電和工業應用。