Empire Diversified Energy has signed an agreement with Battelle Memorial Institute to lead a project at the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2). This program, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), aims to transform food waste into renewable hydrogen , leveraging the natural resources and infrastructure of the Appalachian Clean Hydrogen Hub.
About the Appalachian Hydrogen Hub
The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub has a federal cost share of up to $925 million , a significant investment that will boost clean hydrogen production, storage and distribution in the region.
The project will use an advanced anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis system, developed by Heartland Water Technology, to generate clean hydrogen from biogas . The waste material will be converted into syngas, which will feed the conversion system, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to ARCH2’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 9 million metric tons per year, equivalent to the emissions from more than 2 million gasoline-powered cars.
Strategic partnership for the circular economy
Chris Beaufait, CEO of Heartland, highlights that this collaboration underscores the critical role of renewable hydrogen in the circular economy, while Bernard Brown, COO of Empire, underscores the importance of ARCH2 as a key center for clean energy innovation. This regional hub not only focuses on the production and distribution of clean hydrogen, but also on permanent carbon storage, in order to create a sustainable ecosystem and reduce pollution in Appalachian communities.
Benefits for Appalachian communities
In addition to its economic and environmental benefits, the project promises to create thousands of quality jobs in Appalachian communities, especially in areas historically impacted by mining. The Appalachian Hydrogen Hub seeks to generate equitable workforce development opportunities, with a clear commitment to engaging local communities and creating a Community Benefits Steering Committee that will oversee the implementation of these plans.
With this project, Empire and Heartland aim not only to generate economic and environmental benefits, but also to position the Appalachian region as a leader in renewable energy. The project, which began in June 2024, has already been recognized as a key step towards sustainability.
In the following video you can see more details of the project.
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Source and internal photo: Empire Diversified Energy | ARCH2
Main photo: shutterstock
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