Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has instructed the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to start the process of working with partners in the private sector to assess how to best approach the deployment of hydrogen fueling stations for commercial vehicles in the state.
GDOT has begun by issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to seek feedback from businesses operating in this space on how to progress in the development and construction of hydrogen fuel stations. The feedback will be used in conjunction with other research to better understand how to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen-powered trucks.
“As the No. 1 state for business with world-class institutions of higher learning, Georgia is on the cutting-edge of innovation and the jobs of the future,” said Kemp. “But as I always say, we can’t rest on our laurels. I want to thank GDOT and our partners in the private sector who will ensure that when it comes to hydrogen energy, we will do as we have in so many other areas – lead.”
As explained in a press release from Kemp’s office, “Hydrogen-powered electric fuel cells are a promising technology for commercial vehicles like large trucks. Applications include enabling long travel distances with a fast refueling process for heavy vehicles, which deliver goods throughout the state. These and other efforts are in line with Governor Kemp’s goal of making Georgia the e-mobility capital.”
“The market for hydrogen as a transportation fuel is in the early stages of development in a few regions of the U.S,” the press release added. “It has already deployed successfully in several other economically advanced countries. Currently, hydrogen’s predominant commercial use is in the industrial sector and for fertilizer and methanol production, with the U.S. market consuming approximately 10 million metric tons of hydrogen annually. Abundant in the environment, it is stored in water, hydrocarbons, and other organic matter. The total current value of the hydrogen market in the U.S. is estimated to be approximately $17 billion. By 2050, the total estimated revenue is projected to be more than $130 billion per year, meeting 14 percent of U.S. energy demand.”