In approximately one year, a Douglas County PUD hydrogen facility should be operational.
The facility will produce hydrogen that the utility intends to sell from a fuelling station for hydrogen-powered automobiles and other industrial applications.
It will also serve to absorb much of the tension that causes the Wells Hydroelectric Project’s river dam to deteriorate.
Meaghan Vibbert of the PUD explains that the hydrogen plant will receive the steady signals that are currently sent to the dam’s large mechanical equipment, which must instantaneously adapt to variations in the regional power grid.
“The aim is to boost our efficiency and reduce the amount of maintenance required on these large units by performing all of the adjustments at the hydrogen plant as opposed to the hydropower project,” Vibbert explained.
The hydrogen facility represents a $25 million investment.
The project is somewhat behind schedule due to design adjustments made in April for the building that will house the electrolyzer housing the hydrogen machine.
Hydrogenics Corporation sold the PUD a 5-megawatt electrolyzer for approximately $9.5 million. It has not yet been delivered, but some accompanying equipment has arrived.
The utility has acquired compressors, fuelling stanchions, and fueling panels for the plant, but Vibbert says they will request electrolyzer and purifying equipment suppliers to defer shipment until the production facility is constructed.
At maximum capacity, the hydrogen plant can create 2 tons of hydrogen per day. It is being constructed in Baker Flats.
The PUD is purchasing hydrogen fuelling equipment for the East Wenatchee fueling station from OneH2, Inc. for $2.9 million utilizing state and Centralia Coal Transition Grant funds.
The station will be located on the East Wenatchee campus of the PUD and will have a new Level 3 electric vehicle charging station in addition to hydrogen fueling for automobiles.
According to Vibbert, the utility is confident about the future of the hydrogen plant and is characterizing the initiative as a trial project.
She mentioned that the Baker Flats facility will have the capacity to grow if additional electrolyzers are required.
