Distributed Energy Resources, GHG Emissions, Utilities  -  May 13, 2022

Arizona Universities Partner for Carbon-Neutral Goals

Three Arizona public universities formed an interdisciplinary coalition with four energy providers to achieve a carbon neutral economy in Arizona and establish a regional clean hydrogen hub. 

Professionals from Arizona Public Service Co., Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power and Southwest Gas, and from Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, will play a role in helping Arizona explore options and strategic pathways that move the state toward a carbon-neutral and thriving economy.

The coalition established a new ASU-based center called the “Center for an Arizona Carbon-Neutral Economy,” housed within the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory™ on the ASU Tempe campus. Among its first undertakings, the center will pursue the creation of a regional clean hydrogen hub. This coalition will combine its expertise to launch a new center to begin working on strategies and solutions to the complexity of reducing carbon dioxide emissions across economic sectors.

Hydrogen can fuel chemical reactions that release clean energy and produce only water – H2O, not CO2 –  so much of the energy used to create pure hydrogen can be essentially “stored” in the gas itself and used to provide carbon-free energy or feedstock on demand and could help reduce carbon emissions in many sectors of the economy.

A successful regional clean hydrogen hub will help address difficult-to-reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the state, as well as grow Arizona’s economy, attract new businesses and create high-quality jobs. When fully operational, a new hub would help support a reliable and resilient electric grid, provide clean energy for the electric, transportation and industrial sectors, and potentially create economic development opportunities in communities that are adversely impacted by the closure of fossil-fueled plants.

“ASU’s Global Futures Laboratory exists precisely to take on the challenge of creating a future of opportunity,” said Peter Schlosser, Vice President and Vice Provost of the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at ASU, in a statement. “We welcome the establishment of this new Center, and we are eager to work with the brightest minds from Arizona’s leading energy companies and our sister universities to explore the most effective ways to develop a sustainable and thriving carbon neutral economy.”

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