CenterPoint Energy launched its green hydrogen project in Minneapolis on June 3, according to a company press release.

The project uses renewable electricity to safely split hydrogen from water, which is then blended at low concentrations with natural gas in the utility's local distribution system.

"CenterPoint Energy is committed to evaluating innovative solutions that reduce carbon emissions and advance a clean energy future," Scott Doyle, CenterPoint's executive vice president of utility operations, commented in the press release. "With this pilot project, we are exploring the potential of green hydrogen as a safe, zero-carbon energy resource that can be delivered through our local gas distribution systems to benefit both our customers and the environment."

The project's 1 MW electrolyzer is powered by renewable electricity and can produce up to 432 kg of hydrogen gas per day, using approximately two gallons of water per minute, which is sourced from the municipal water supply and highly purified before it enters the hydrogen production system.

The primary goal of the pilot project is to gain operational experience with the technology for making green hydrogen and how it can be integrated most effectively into the local natural gas distribution system to lower the carbon content of delivered energy.

The green hydrogen produced by the system is added in low concentrations, up to 5%, to the natural gas in a low-pressure section of CenterPoint Energy's local distribution pipeline system. As a substitute for natural gas that would otherwise be used, the green hydrogen is expected to avoid approximately 1,200 tons of CO2 emissions per year.

CenterPoint Energy is one of the first natural gas utilities in the U.S. to produce and add green hydrogen to its distribution system. Because there are no carbon emissions from either its production or end-use, green hydrogen has the potential to be an important zero-carbon supplement to conventional natural gas.

Last year, the company announced industry-leading enterprise-wide carbon reduction goals. They include achieving net zero by 2035 for direct emissions resulting from the company's own operations and energy use. The company has also made a goal to reduce its Scope 3 emissions by 20% to 30% by 2035.

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