Green hydrogen is a crucial component for decarbonizing the current hydrogen use and addressing the massive global warming problem. The existing 120 million tons of hydrogen presents a global warming issue comparable to the impact of the entire aviation industry. Despite this, irrational alternatives to green hydrogen continue to receive serious consideration from many sectors.
One such example is the plan to establish a Fortescue/Nikola green hydrogen manufacturing facility in Buckeye, Arizona. This facility, proposed for a small town with rapid growth goals, raises several concerns.
Nikola, a truck manufacturing startup, has faced significant credibility challenges. While the company has ventured into battery electric trucks, it continues to promote the use of hydrogen for trucking uphill, a notion that defies the reality of the transportation industry’s move towards electrification. This push for hydrogen is supported by the US hydrogen strategy and transportation blueprint, which, despite being backed by the government, falls short in addressing climate change and decarbonization.
Despite its well-documented water scarcity and unrelenting heat, the Phoenix, Arizona region has delusions of maintaining massive urban expansion. In this context, the establishment of a green hydrogen manufacturing facility raises concerns about water consumption and hydrogen distribution in a region where hydrogen infrastructure for trucks is virtually non-existent.
Additionally, the partnership between Fortescue and Nikola to develop the Phoenix Hydrogen Hub lacks practicality and sustainability. The proposal to use ground water for hydrogen production, coupled with the absence of hydrogen trucks in the region, indicates significant obstacles in making this project viable.
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