International
First hydrogen production hub on U.S. East Coast under development
In what is believed to be a first for the US East Coast, North Carolina based OneH2 completed construction of the first stage of a fully dedicated hydrogen fuel plant designed to provide deliveries of ready to use bulk hydrogen gas to the industrial truck and heavy vehicle markets. Primarily servicing today’s hydrogen powered forklift fleets, the stage one project based in Longview, NC, will provide zero emission fuel to about 1,000 industrial trucks throughout the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia.
OneH2 expects that with completion of stages two and three, the facility will also service the burgeoning hydrogen powered semi-tractor market, particularly for trucks conducting linehaul runs between Charlotte, Atlanta and Nashville. Fully complete, OneH2’s investment in the Longview hub will approach $16M in hydrogen production capital.
OneH2’s business is based on a fuel production hub and spoke model where central ‘production hubs’ produce low cost ready to use hydrogen fuel which is then transported by trailer to refueling locations at industrial centers such as factories, port precincts and warehouses. Regional distributors, such as OneH2 Southeast, play a direct role in fuel marketing and distribution.
According to OneH2 President & CEO Paul Dawson, hydrogen fuel is the future of zero emission renewable energy in the heavy truck market, and in time makes sense for larger passenger vehicles and SUVs. “It has the refuel-and-go convenience of gasoline or diesel with the efficiency and environmental benefits of an electric vehicle. With line of sight on price parity with conventional motor fuel, we believe that it won’t be long before the heavy truck market tips in favor of hydrogen,” he added.