“Kentucky’s existing
resources, robust infrastructure, strong chemical and manufacturing base, along
with our leadership in the automotive and logistics sectors position us as a
natural location for hydrogen economic development," said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. "The key now is to coordinate and access the seed
funding to develop the foundation here.”
Purpose: To work with partners to develop and construct hydrogen projects over the next decade enabling Kentucky's integration into a national hydrogen economy.
Who: Workgroup
stakeholders will consist of academic institutions, individuals, organizations,
and business focused on hydrogen production, transportation, delivery, and end
use utilization opportunities.
Why: Hydrogen can be
produced from a variety of resources, such as fossil, renewable, and nuclear
resources. The energy density and energy carrying capacity of hydrogen make it
an attractive cleaner fuel option for transportation, aviation, industrial
uses, and electricity generation applications.
“Hydrogen is one
component of Kentucky's Energy Strategy," said EEC Secretary Rebecca Goodman, "but it only becomes actionable when we come
together and work collaboratively on how to build a hydrogen economy in
Kentucky from the community level up.”
For more information on the hydrogen, such as the uses of hydrogen, how hydrogen is made, and how hydrogen is classified, please visit the Office of Energy Policy's Hydrogen 101 Page.
Ongoing Work:
Kentucky Distilled Spirits Industrial Decarbonization and Sustainability Project
University of Kentucky's James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits (JBBI) had success in phase one of hydrogen-based spirit production, demonstrating hydrogen as a domestic energy source for use in the distilled spirits industry. The project was funded by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC). Read more about this project here. University of Kentucky Beam Institute, partners reach success in phase one of hydrogen-based spirit production | UK Research