Hydropower-to-Hydrogen in New York

Science & Technology (alternative energy)

Earlier this week, New York Governor George Pataki announced plans for a hydropower-to-hydrogen generation project. The $21 million dollar project will serve both hydrogen-fueled work and passenger vehicles and transit buses. The New York Power Authority’s Trustees will partner with other state and federal government organizations and corporations to begin hydrogen production by the end of 2007. Once complete, the demonstration project will consist of two hydrogen generation stations near Niagra Falls, storage, and fueling facilities. The generation and fueling stations will use up to 700kW of hydropower from the Niagara Power Project, and will produce up to 120 kilograms of hydrogen per day. It is estimated that one kilogram of hydrogen has the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline.