Ohio Transit Agency Leading the Way with Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses
Key Ideas
- Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) plans to replace imported natural gas fuel with green hydrogen produced by a solar-powered facility, making it the fourth-largest hydrogen-powered transit fleet in the US.
- The initiative aims to reduce emissions, lower costs, and improve resiliency in the transit system, potentially doubling SARTA's hydrogen supply and supporting US energy independence goals.
- The $15 million project, primarily funded by federal grants, involves installing 1,000 solar panels to power an electrolysis facility, expected to produce 1 ton of hydrogen per day to fuel SARTA's buses.
- Despite skepticism around fuel-cell buses' effectiveness in reducing emissions, the shift to green hydrogen signifies progress in transitioning towards cleaner transportation options as technology advances.
The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority in Canton, Ohio, is set to make a significant shift towards green hydrogen for its fuel cell buses. With about 5,000 daily rides, SARTA plans to establish a hydrogen production facility powered by solar energy, partnering with Enbridge and the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) to produce hydrogen locally. This move comes as part of a federally funded clean hydrogen hub program, aiming to enhance the sustainability of the transit system.
By transitioning from imported natural gas fuel to green hydrogen, SARTA aims to reduce emissions and operational costs while enhancing the system's resiliency. The project, estimated to cost around $15 million, is anticipated to receive significant federal funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law. The plan involves installing solar panels to power an electrolysis facility, capable of producing up to 1 ton of hydrogen per day to fuel the agency's buses.
While there are concerns about the effectiveness of fuel-cell buses in reducing emissions, SARTA's push towards green hydrogen signifies a positive step towards cleaner transportation options. The CEO, Kirt Conrad, emphasized the importance of evolving technology and the readiness to transition to a cleaner source of hydrogen now that it is more accessible in the market. If successful, the project could significantly lower emissions, improve the transit system's efficiency, and support energy independence goals in the US. The anticipated completion of on-site hydrogen production by 2028 holds the promise of a greener and more sustainable transit system for Canton, Ohio.
Topics
Green Hydrogen
Public Transit
Renewable Energy
Environmental Impact
Transportation
Clean Fuel
Federal Funding
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