Hydrogen Developments in Appalachia and Beyond: Airlines, Whisky Production, and Energy Transition
Key Ideas
- US Secretary of Energy to attend Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub ribbon-cutting ceremony with significant federal funding marking progress in clean energy shift.
- American Airlines confirms commitment to hydrogen-powered aircrafts by 2032 through ZeroAvia project, purchasing 100 hydrogen-electric engines for regional jets.
- Scottish distillery Auchentoshan partners with Marubeni Europower to develop hydrogen plant for decarbonizing whisky production, with plans for site operation by 2027.
- Various companies like Cepsa, Linde Engineering, and Shell Deutschland are also investing in hydrogen projects globally to support the energy transition towards sustainability.
The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) Program Office in the United States is receiving substantial federal funding, signifying progress in the nation's transition to clean energy. American Airlines has announced its intention to introduce hydrogen-powered aircraft to its fleet by 2032, as part of the ZeroAvia project, with plans to purchase 100 hydrogen-electric engines for regional jets. In Scotland, Marubeni Europower and Suntory Global Spirits are collaborating to establish a hydrogen plant at Auchentoshan Distillery, aiming to decarbonize whisky production by 2027. Additionally, Cepsa is divesting its Gasib liquefied gas subsidiary in Spain and Portugal to focus on investments in sustainable energy like green hydrogen and biofuels. Linde Engineering and Shell Deutschland have entered an agreement to construct a 100 MW renewable hydrogen plant in Germany, utilizing PEM electrolyzer stacks and scheduled to commence operations in 2027. These developments underscore the growing momentum towards hydrogen adoption across various sectors globally.