Hydrogen in Utah

Hydrogen in Utah
In November 2021, a roundtable was held with key leadership to explore the role Utah can play in the growing hydrogen industry; challenges related to hydrogen’s production and use, both in Utah and elsewhere; and the infrastructure and policy investments that can maximize Utah’s potential in a low-carbon future
As an energy exporter with significant renewable resources and a strategic location in the west, Utah will be key to accelerating the United States’ energy transition. Recently, the state has garnered international attention for its growing role in the bourgeoning hydrogen industry, with multiple industry-leading projects underway. Barriers remain to deploying hydrogen in a low-carbon future, but Utah has potential to play a leadership role in the hydrogen sector if it can address its own unique barriers. This brief provides insights from a C2ES roundtable held in November 2021 that explored the future of hydrogen in Utah. It highlights the benefits hydrogen can bring to the state, Utah’s unique advantages in the growing hydrogen industry, and the challenges that must be addressed to unlock hydrogen’s decarbonization potential, both in Utah and beyond.
Hydrogen (H2) is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe. It exists in water, hydrocarbons (such as methane), and organic matter. Hydrogen fuel is a colorless, odorless gas at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. In nature hydrogen bonds with other elements, therefore pure hydrogen gas must be produced by separating it from other compounds.
Although abundant on earth as an element, hydrogen is almost always found as part of another compound, such as water (H2O) or methane (CH4), and it must be separated into pure hydrogen (H2) for use in fuel cell electric vehicles. Hydrogen fuel combines with oxygen from the air through a fuel cell, creating electricity and water through an electrochemical process.
Hydrogen can be produced from diverse, domestic resources, including fossil fuels, biomass, and water electrolysis with electricity. The environmental impact and energy efficiency of hydrogen depends on how it is produced. Several projects are underway to decrease costs associated with hydrogen production.
There are several ways to produce hydrogen:
Several hydrogen production methods are in development:
The major hydrogen-producing states are California, Louisiana, and Texas. Today, almost all the hydrogen produced in the United States is used for refining petroleum, treating metals, producing fertilizer, and processing foods.
The primary challenge for hydrogen production is reducing the cost of production technologies to make the resulting hydrogen cost competitive with conventional transportation fuels. Government and industry research and development projects are reducing the cost as well as the environmental impacts of hydrogen production technologies. Learn more about hydrogen production from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
Learn about hydrogen’s use as an alternative fuel, production and distribution, research and development.
State and federal governments enact laws and provide incentives to help build and maintain a market for hydrogen fuel and vehicles.
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are powered by hydrogen.
Learn about hydrogen’s use as an alternative fuel, production and distribution, research and development.
Hydrogen can be produced from diverse domestic resources with the potential for near-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Hydrogen is a promising fuel source that has the potential for near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Once produced, hydrogen generates electrical power in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapor and warm air. Similar to other alternative fuel sources, hydrogen can be produced domestically.
Hydrogen can be produced from diverse domestic resources with the potential for near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Once produced, hydrogen generates electrical power in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapor and warm air. It holds promise for growth in both the stationary and transportation energy sectors.
Hydrogen production R&D is important to make hydrogen cost-competitive with conventional fuels while minimizing the environmental impacts of production. Learn more about hydrogen production R&D activities from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
R&D helps improve technologies to distribute hydrogen cost-effectively from the point of production to the point of end-use, such as in fuel cell vehicles.
Learn more about hydrogen delivery R&D activities from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.