HUB Series: Part 5

By: GenH2 Staff
Read Time: 2 minutes

The Importance of Innovation and the Role of Small Businesses

Previous installments of the GenH2 Hub Series have examined what Hydrogen Hubs are, why they are essential, and the large-scale options for supplying those hubs, and today we are discussing the importance of innovation and how small businesses or startups will be playing an essential role in this emerging market as hydrogen hubs are implicated across the country integrating hydrogen-based energy services that connect hydrogen producers and consumers in a connective infrastructure and close proximity approach.

As discussed in our last blog on large-scale, physical infrastructure that provides a large-scale solution to hydrogen storage is required in order for Hydrogen Hubs to successfully demonstrate the production, storage, and use of clean hydrogen. As noted in the previous blog, these large-scale options include salt caverns for certain locations, and for other locations, very large-scale vacuum-jacketed spherical storage tanks provide the solution, especially for the storage of liquid hydrogen.  Building on innovative solutions for incorporating the use of two new technologies in insulation (glass bubbles) and refrigeration of the largest scale storage tank built and completed in 2022 at NASA Kennedy Space Center, a DOE, Shell lead Consortium including NASA and small business GenH2, are collaborating to develop a technically innovative and economically viable concept design for the first of its kind largest scale LH₂ storage tank.  Innovative approaches in bringing about the vision, practicality, and use of hubs must be at the forefront.

Small businesses and startups in the hydrogen pioneering H2Hubs arena will be a part of the innovative solutions in building out the infrastructure and the connective network to reach the customers of these hubs.  With the vision and mission for a cleaner energy future using hydrogen as the energy carrier and armed with innovative solutions, plus the government and private sector investments, the reality of these collective hubs is on a pathway to meet the needs of the emerging hydrogen ecosystem and to support all facets of our energy needs by 2030 and beyond.

Companies like GenH2 are leading in innovative approaches to bringing liquid hydrogen infrastructure solutions that can be a part of the practicality of integrating hydrogen-based energy services with close proximity and availability.  Whether being a part of a team that is designing the largest storage tank in the world or the other end of the spectrum, providing a liquid hydrogen supply mobile solution, the objective of making hydrogen accessible for everyday use across the U.S. and around the globe is the goal.