New Jersey is moving towards a carbon-free future. Several projects to be deployed will be using renewable resources, hydrogen generated from these resources, and fuel cells, thus reducing the energy industry’s impact on the environment. CB&I Storage Solutions (a business unit of McDermott International, Ltd.) will build a power-to-gas facility for New Jersey Natural Gas using solar energy to produce hydrogen, which will be injected into the natural gas network. A second project will generate hydrogen using the excess electricity from an offshore wind farm being developed by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind – a 50/50 joint venture of EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies U.S., LLC. Energy services provider South Jersey Industries, Inc. will provide its natural gas blending technology and infrastructure facilities. And New Jersey Transit is planning a microgrid that incorporates hydrogen and fuel cell technology, clean electricity sources like solar and wind, and battery storage. Supported by $409 million in Federal funds, the microgrid will have the capability of operating autonomously in the event of a disruption to the power grid.
The New Jersey Fuel Cell Coalition will be phased out over 2023 as other organizations ramp up hydrogen and fuel cell activities in the state, particularly the NJ Clean Cities Coalition and the NJ Fuel Cell Task Force. The NJFCC website will remain active through 2023 to share related news. It has been an honor to work toward clean energy goals with the hydrogen/fuel cell community and other clean energy advocates.