{"id":3924,"date":"2019-07-02T22:55:11","date_gmt":"2019-07-03T02:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.respectmyplanet.org\/publications\/?p=3924"},"modified":"2025-06-29T09:55:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T13:55:21","slug":"usa-canada-quarterly-h2-infrastructure-update-2019-q2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.respectmyplanet.org\/publications\/fuel-cells\/usa-canada-quarterly-h2-infrastructure-update-2019-q2","title":{"rendered":"USA & CANADA Quarterly H2 Infrastructure Update 2019-Q2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Each quarter RMP looks back on the stories & data related to hydrogen infrastructure advancements in the USA & Canada.  The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) database hosted by the US Dept of Energy is RMP’s source for quarter over quarter comparisons and can be found by clicking here<\/a>.  Canada does not have a centralized database of alternative fuel vehicle information so we collect Canadian data by hand in RMP\u2019s own data tables.  Read the 2019 Q2 update\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main objective of this quarterly publication is to review hydrogen infrastructure developments across the USA & Canada.  For the most part, that translates to new public hydrogen refueling stations opening and watching the construction progress of new stations.  But, the infrastructure in the hydrogen economy is much bigger than just refueling stations.  Manufacturing companies like Hydrogenics, Ballard Power, Bloom Energy, Doosan, & Plug Power are all part of the burgeoning hydrogen economy.  Major industrial gas suppliers like Air Liquide, Air Products, Linde, and Praxier all have big roles to play in the hydrogen economy.  So too do major manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, General Motors, and Mercedes along with many more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the addition & progress of public refueling stations is still the major focus of this publication, most of the action this past quarter has been the growth of the hydrogen economy at large outside of the refueling stations sector.  The biggest example just happened a week ago with Cummins<\/a> purchasing Hydrogenics for $290M (or $15\/share).  This purchase is a major validation of hydrogen fuel cells coming of age.  Cummins has over $21B of revenue each year & is a powerhouse in the diesel engine game.   Cummins is not just purchasing a small distributor or supplier to ease a logistics issue, this is a strategic shift in its main profit center: starting the changeover of making diesel engines to making zero emission heavy duty fuel cell systems.  Cummins knows a thing or two about powering large marine vessels, Class 8 trucks to Class 1 trucks, and even backup generators for critical infrastructure like hospitals, water treatment plants, and key government buildings.  Cummins purchase of Hydrogenics indicates an acknowledgement that heavy duty fuel cells could begin to replace every single one of those applications with zero emission clean hydrogen that is domestically produced; i.e. no more imported crude oil or the smog that goes with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cummins recognition of diesel reaching its peak & its purchase of fuel cell maker Hydrogenics signifies diesel now entering its denouement.   And my choice of the French word denouement<\/em> is no accident as I segue to remind you French industrial giant Air Liquide [based in Paris, France] recently made an investment in Hydrogenics in 2018 Q4<\/a> of $20.5 million dollars purchasing 3.5 million shares of $HYGS common stock.  Now that Cummins has purchased $HYGS for $15\/share, that gives Air Liquide shares that are now worth more than $52.5M !!   Not a bad investment by Air Liquide to more than double their money in just six months!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth is, however, Air Liquide\u2019s investment in $HYGS was not made to turn a quick buck.  $52.5M is an immaterial amount for Air Liquide which has approimately \u20ac21B of revenue per year .  Air Liquide is vested in the big picture of moving the hydrogen economy forward.  Also of note, in RMP\u2019s 2018-Q4 publication, we cited reports that Air Liquide also entered a $150M hydrogen supply agreement with First Element Fuel in California.  Air Liquide is not just investing in Hydrogenics & California, they\u2019re investing in the hydrogen economy around the world.   These are major companies doing what they said they were going to do:  invest $billions$ into the hydrogen economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also newsworthy, as recent as July 1 (this publication is a tiny late this quarter), we have reports of energy giant Duke Energy announcing plans<\/a> to purchase $250M in fuel cells from Bloom Energy.   There is literally so much astonishing growth in hydrogen fuel cell markets this past quarter I would need ten articles to cover it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will leave a listing of what I think are key headlines that occurred in 2019-Q2 but I want to mention one more specific major headline this quarter.   The U.S. Department of Energy announced<\/a> a collaboration of what is touted as the world’s largest clean energy storage project in the world.  The underground hydrogen storage project is destined to deliver 1,000 megawatts of energy and is bound for Utah’s Millard County.  This clean energy storage project will change the U.S. energy grid in the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems and Magnum Development initiative was officially unveiled Thursday May 30, 2019 by Gov. Gary Herbert at the Energy Summit in an event headlined by U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big headline news of hydrogen economy development is happening so fast now it gives ample reason for RMP to start publishing this update monthly rather than quarterly.  Maybe RMP will begin monthly publications starting in 2020.  Until then, below are list of what RMP considers key headlines from 2019-Q2.  Then we will get to the hydrogen refueling station numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important H2 Infrastructure Headline Stories from 2019-Q2:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n