Invenergy’s Sauk Valley Hydrogen project is up and running in Nelson Township, Illinois. The compact 5-acre facility produces green hydrogen using PEM electrolyser technology from Ohmium International. No carbon emissions here—just water and solar power doing the heavy lifting. The plant cranks out 6 kg of hydrogen hourly, with 400 kg storage capacity. It’s Illinois’ chance to flex some clean energy muscle. Who knew the Prairie State had it in them?
Dozens of clean energy initiatives spring up in the U.S. every year, but Invenergy’s Sauk Valley Hydrogen project is actually worth paying attention to. Located in Nelson Township, Illinois, this compact 5-acre facility isn’t just another flashy green tech showcase – it’s Invenergy’s first venture into green hydrogen production. And honestly, it’s about time.
Among the sea of green energy hype, Invenergy’s Sauk Valley project finally brings substance to the hydrogen conversation.
The project pairs Invenergy with Ohmium International, whose PEM electrolyser technology is the beating heart of the operation. Scheduled to be fully operational by late 2022, this modest-sized facility packs a serious punch. It’ll crank out up to 52 tonnes of hydrogen annually. Not bad for a newcomer.
What makes this project interesting? For starters, it’s powered entirely by Invenergy’s co-located solar plant. Yeah, that’s right – solar-powered hydrogen production. No carbon emissions, no fossil fuels, just water being zapped into useful hydrogen. The electrolyser produces 6 kg of hydrogen per hour, with storage capacity for 400 kg on-site. Extra hydrogen gets shipped elsewhere. Simple.
The facility isn’t just for show. Its hydrogen can feed Invenergy’s nearby 584-MW Nelson Energy Center, potentially creating carbon-free electricity. This innovative approach demonstrates a shared vision for decarbonization between the project partners. Talk about closing the loop.
This marks Invenergy’s 21st development project in Illinois, adding hydrogen to their already impressive portfolio of wind, solar, thermal, and storage technologies. Fifth technology in the bag. Achievement realized.
Beyond the technical specs, there’s real impact here. New clean energy jobs for Illinois residents. Reduced carbon emissions. More energy independence. Less reliance on fossil fuels. Who wouldn’t want that?
The Sauk Valley project demonstrates that green hydrogen production can be implemented quickly and scaled effectively. The zero-carbon solution aims to help various economic sectors decarbonize while advancing sustainability goals. Unlike intermittent renewables, this system provides 96% capacity factor reliability similar to traditional geothermal plants. From megawatt to gigawatt applications, the potential is massive.
Illinois might not be the first state that comes to mind for energy innovation, but with projects like this, maybe it should be.
