Detroit's NextEnergy Leads the Way Toward the Hydrogen Highway
NHA Home • NHA News Index

The 45,000 square-foot NextEnergy Center, which recently opened in Detroit, includes more than 18,000 square-feet of technology incubator space as well as education and training facilities. The Center's incubator space consists of seven labs where alternative energy technology researchers can conduct R&D projects with the benefit of NextEnergy's Microgrid Power Pavilion and emerging alternative fuels platform, which includes a hydrogen reformation test bed. The Microgrid is an on-site power generation plant that houses a variety of distributed generation technologies fueled by hydrogen and natural gas. NextEnergy already has signed two research tenants in its incubator and plans to announce tenants for its remaining labs by September 2005.

Located in the heart of the nation's automotive industry, NextEnergy is uniquely poised to take advantage of Michigan's automotive R&D expertise to help advance hydrogen and fuel cells as components of a broader interest in alternative energy technologies. In addition to projects underway with Detroit's Big Three automakers, NextEnergy is building a hydrogen fueling station, including a test and validation platform for multiple on-site hydrogen generation technologies. The first technology to be demonstrated and validated will be supplied by REB Research, one of NextEnergy's tenants, and will generate ultra-pure hydrogen from methanol feed-stocks. Several additional technologies/feed-stocks are under consideration, based on industry need. This station is part of an emerging hydrogen fueling corridor in southeast Michigan.

Michigan is already home to several hydrogen fueling stations with more planned and is a national leader in pursuing hydrogen technology within an overall energy diversification strategy. In addition to the new hydrogen fueling station being built at NextEnergy Center, hydrogen fueling stations are operational in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Milford, and Southfield. A sixth station will be constructed near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Several other important factors merit consideration in the development of a hydrogen fueling corridor. Permitting and safety processes and guidelines, public awareness, and first responder education and training are all required to create an environment conducive to hydrogen fueling implementation and utilization.

NextEnergy is coordinating hydrogen infrastructure activities in Michigan through its Advancing Hydrogen in Michigan Working Group, which brings together automotive OEMs, energy companies, government entities, universities, and other stakeholders with current or planned hydrogen fueling stations in the state. This group focuses on developing cohesive strategies for activities such as first responder training and public awareness related to hydrogen fueling.

NextEnergy also is serving as a clearinghouse on hydrogen-related topics, including Michigan permitting processes, education and outreach documentation, training and education products for local officials and emergency first responders. This information will be available to the general public through the Hydrogen Resource section on NextEnergy's Web site.

For more information regarding NextEnergy's business accelerator services/infrastructure, contact Jim Saber, Director, Business Development, at saberj@nextenergy.org.


© 2005. All Rights Reserved. A Publication of the National Hydrogen Association.
This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

NHA Home • Return to NHA News Index