Clean Hydrogen
Background
Connecticut is committed to a just transition toward a clean and renewable energy economy that will provide a more livable future for current and future generations. The state has ambitious goals for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. Reflecting the Global Warming Solutions Act, The Climate Change Planning and Resiliency Act, and The Climate Change Mitigation Act, section 22a-200a of the Connecticut General Statutes requires a GHG emissions reduction of 45% below 2001 levels by 2030 and of 80% below 2001 levels by 2050, and a 100% zero-carbon electric sector by 2040.
Using Clean Hydrogen for selected applications is one of the many decarbonization strategies CT DEEP is exploring to achieve the state's climate goals, while ensuring equity, affordability, economic development, reliability and resilience. With a focus on hard-to-decarbonize sectors and complementing, rather than replacing, cost-effective electrification, DEEP has identified the following non-exhaustive potential hydrogen use cases for Connecticut:
1. Heavy-duty vehicles, including but not limited to fueling stations for bus depots, vehicles fleets, and public use along the major transportation corridors in the State, like I-95 and I-91, and airport ground fleet;
2. Aviation fueling and heavy machinery;
3. Ports, including marine fueling and heavy machinery used at the ports; and
4. Long duration energy storage used to support reliability and resilience, particularly during winter cold snaps when the region faces reliability challenges.
As the home of world-leading fuel cell and electrolyzer companies and forefront hydrogen-related research and development, Connecticut is well positioned to further explore and economically benefit from a future clean hydrogen economy.
Reports
2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap
Pursuant to Public Act No. 23-156, DEEP developed the 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap. The Roadmap articulates Connecticut's aspirations for clean hydrogen's integration into its energy landscape, outlining its potential contributions to decarbonization, economic growth, and environmental justice. It also encourages the use of hydrogen produced from renewable energy, identifies the target technologies and their associated volumes over time to scale Connecticut's hydrogen economy, and identifies benefits and risks associated with hydrogen and tactics to address the identified risks. Additionally, the Roadmap recommends policies, programs, and pilot projects to support clean hydrogen development and deployment in alignment with state goals.
A public process was established for the conclusion of the Roadmap. A draft document was released on July 24, 2024, for public written comments. The draft Roadmap was also presented at a public meeting on July 29, 2024. DEEP appreciates the public engagement and the written comments received on the draft document. See below the links for the final and draft Roadmaps, written comments, and notice of request for written comments:
Final 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap
Draft 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap
Draft 2024 CT Clean Hydrogen Roadmap Written comments
Notice of request for written comments – Draft 2024 CT Clean Hydrogen Roadmap
Past Activities
Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub
Between March 2022 and April 2023, DEEP worked with the State Energy Offices of six Northeast states (Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Vermont) to develop a proposal for the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Funding Opportunity made available by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
As part of the initial process of understanding and mapping Connecticut's hydrogen opportunities, in light of the state's priorities and the U.S. Department of Energy Notice of Intent to Issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (DOE NOI), CT DEEP issued a Request for Information on July 26, 2022, to solicit information and concept papers from Connecticut partners interested in participating in the Northeast Clean Hydrogen Hub (NE H2Hub) application. on July 26, 2022, to solicit information and concept papers from Connecticut partners interested in participating in the Northeast Clean Hydrogen Hub (NE H2Hub) application. The NE H2Hub brought together seven states, multiple project partners, and hundreds of stakeholders to develop a proposal for a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem throughout the region, aiming to advance decarbonization, economic development, and environmental justice through the production, distribution, and use of clean electrolytic hydrogen. This collaboration ensured the proposed projects had the best technological, environmental, and societal outcomes possible. While the NE H2Hub was not selected, it advanced to the last phase of the selection process, demonstrating that the region has strong fundamentals for a clean hydrogen economy. Moreover, the application process itself strengthened the coordination among the Northeast states and partners, which can further support clean hydrogen development in the Northeast region. The NE H2Hub States look forward to learning from the Hubs selected by the Department of Energy to carry forward this important work. Access previous Coalition Announcements:
02/09/2023 - Vermont Joins Multi-State Effort to Create Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub in Northeast - NYSERDA
08/25/2022 - Governor Hochul Announces Maine and Rhode Island Join Multi-State Agreement to Propose a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub
Public engagement
Draft H2 Roadmap release public meeting
On July 29, 2024, DEEP held a hybrid public meeting to present and discuss the main findings of the Draft 2024 Connecticut Clean Hydrogen Roadmap. An open-floor discussion session with hydrogen stakeholders and public comments opportunity followed the roadmap presentation.
Access the meeting recording, presentation, and notice of public meeting:
Hydrogen 101 Public Webinar
As an Environmental Justice monthly meeting session, DEEP held a virtual Hydrogen 101 public webinar on December 15, 2022, to educate communities on the basics around hydrogen production, transportation, storage and use, and to discuss the challenges and their concerns around it.
Hydrogen Public Technical Meeting
On April 6, 2022, DEEP help a virtual public technical meeting on hydrogen opportunities in the State of Connecticut as part of its Comprehensive Energy Strategy (CES) process. DEEP invited stakeholders to participate or present in the meeting and submit written comments.
Access the meeting recording and notice:
Recording - 2022 Comprehensive Energy Strategy - Hydrogen Listening Session
Notice of Technical Meeting and Request for Written Comment on Hydrogen Opportunities
Email Distribution List
Please contact DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov to join our Clean Hydrogen Distribution List to receive email updates about current and forthcoming CT DEEP hydrogen programs and activities.