Invenergy, a privately held clean energy solutions developer, has taken a significant step forward in the hydrogen economy with the launch of its first clean hydrogen project, the Sauk Valley hydrogen facility in Rock Falls, Illinois. This five-acre site is not just a hydrogen production facility but a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. The facility, which sits adjacent to the Nelson natural gas facility, will generate up to 40 tonnes of clean hydrogen annually, leveraging power from Invenergy’s adjacent solar facility and electrolyser technology from Ohmium International.
The Sauk Valley facility is more than just a hydrogen producer; it’s a storage and distribution hub. It can store up to 400kg of clean hydrogen on-site and is designed to load and transport hydrogen for offsite use. This capability is crucial for industries looking to decarbonize, as it provides a reliable source of clean hydrogen that can be transported to where it’s needed most.
The initial hydrogen supply from Sauk Valley was used at the Nelson Energy Center, a 980MW natural gas facility operated by Invenergy. Here, the hydrogen served as a cooling agent for turbine generators, demonstrating its immediate practical application. But the facility’s potential doesn’t stop at cooling. Invenergy Hydrogen vice-president Jon Horek highlighted the broader implications, stating, “Invenergy’s significant renewables portfolio allows our team to produce clean hydrogen for ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors of the economy across the country at scale, for huge hydrogen consumers such as liquid fuels and chemicals plants.”
This project is a significant milestone for Invenergy, representing the 22nd clean energy project the company has developed in Illinois alone. With a portfolio spanning wind, solar, transmission, natural gas, and energy storage, Invenergy is positioning itself as a major player in the clean energy transition. The company’s recent $1.1bn debt financing facility for three utility-scale solar projects in Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee further underscores this ambition.
The Sauk Valley facility is a beacon of what’s possible when innovation meets sustainability. It’s a model that other companies in the sector should look to, not just for the technology it employs, but for the way it integrates hydrogen production into a broader energy ecosystem. This project could spark a wave of similar initiatives, accelerating the development of the hydrogen economy.
The launch of the Sauk Valley hydrogen facility is more than just a business milestone for Invenergy; it’s a call to action for the entire energy sector. It challenges us to think bigger, to innovate faster, and to embrace a future where clean hydrogen plays a central role. As Ohmium CEO Arne Ballantine put it, “This is a significant step toward a sustainable energy future, and we are eager to see its positive impact across sectors.” The energy sector should be eager too, for the future of clean energy is here, and it’s powered by hydrogen.
