UW Researchers Explore Producing Low-Carbon Hydrogen from Wyoming Natural Gas

A new study from University of Wyoming researchers features Wyoming's potential to take a lead role in the advancement of low-carbon hydrogen production from natural gas.

Haibo Zhai, the Roy and Caryl Cline Distinguished Chair in Engineering and a UW College of Engineering and Physical Sciences professor, led the study that was published in Environmental Science & Technology, an impactful journal for a multidisciplinary and diverse audience of scientists, policymakers and the broad environmental community. Zhai's postdoctoral researcher, Zitao Wu, was the lead author.

The study, titled "Unlocking Potential for Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production from U.S. Natural Gas Resources," examines the resource availability -- and environmental, economic, policy and societal impacts -- of pairing low-carbon hydrogen production by steam methane reforming with carbon capture and storage in Wyoming and other natural gas-rich states.

"The blue hydrogen industry has all of the right components to be successful in Wyoming -- natural resources, infrastructure and favorable regulations," Zhai says. "This study really allows us to take those factors into consideration and further provide a multidimensional analysis of low-carbon hydrogen production at a state level, as well as the potential to scale it up at the regional level to determine the likelihood of success and the impacts."

Other authors are Selena Gerace, a senior research professional with expertise in social sciences in UW's School of Energy Resources (SER); Eugene Holubnyak, director of SER's Hydrogen Energy Research Center; Amy Murphy, dean of workforce development at Western Wyoming Community College; and Curtis Biggs, UW's senior director of strategic partnerships in the Office of Industry and Strategic Partnerships.

Leveraging the combined expertise of its co-authors, the study offers an integrated understanding of low-carbon hydrogen from the resource through environmental, economic, policy and societal perspectives, and recommends a cluster approach to jump-start a hydrogen economy.

"As this project progresses, there is an increasing objective to reconcile the technology feasibility with the potential benefits to Wyoming citizens," Holubnyak says. "This study really allowed us to incorporate the views of the community colleges and explore some of the economic incentives and workforce training opportunities for a natural gas-based, low-carbon hydrogen industry."

The research is the result of Phase 2 funding under the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) initiative focused on an examination of the potential for sustainable development of a hydrogen ecosystem in Wyoming -- as well as an education and workforce training program in relation to hydrogen energy and an emerging hydrogen economy.

The UW research team recently was selected for a competitive funding award under Phase 3 of the WIP initiative to continue workforce development, innovation and research of blue hydrogen in Wyoming.

"We are very grateful to the Wyoming governor's office and the Wyoming State Legislature for making the WIP program possible," Zhai says. "Support for this topic area has allowed us to really dive into a comprehensive analysis and make recommendations based on our findings in support of decisions or policy making."

For more information, email Zhai at [email protected].