Apr 3, 2024
The goals of this report are to enhance knowledge and information sharing, spur innovation and investment that could help transform Alaska’s energy systems, and identify economic and workforce development opportunities across the state.
Hydrogen has garnered significant national and international attention due to its potential to decarbonize various economic sectors. As part of the clean energy solution, hydrogen offers flexibility in the use of energy sources that might otherwise face spatial and temporal challenges. This inaugural report on Alaska's hydrogen opportunities presents key themes for developing a hydrogen economy, evaluates the state’s infrastructure, and situates Alaska’s potential within broader global hydrogen initiatives.
The Alaska Hydrogen Working Group, formed in 2022, drives this effort, bringing together nearly 200 members from government, industry, academia, and Indigenous communities to explore hydrogen’s role in transforming Alaska’s energy landscape. This report reflects the group’s grassroots interest and aligns with the 2022-2027 Alaska Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, which includes the objective of developing a hydrogen roadmap for Alaska.
Key goals include fostering knowledge sharing, spurring investment, and identifying economic and workforce development opportunities across the state. Following the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy, the report examines hydrogen production, storage, delivery, and end-use markets for Alaska, and highlights infrastructure investments, policy frameworks, and research priorities. The vision is to create a statewide hydrogen energy economy that is equitable, diverse, environmentally just, and aligned with Indigenous values.
Alaska’s unique strengths in hydrogen production, such as its renewable energy potential and natural gas resources with carbon capture, can enable large-scale hydrogen storage and delivery. The report also emphasizes the importance of near-term demonstration projects to showcase proof-of-concept, build early markets, and establish social license for future growth. Achieving these goals will require a clear scope of work, accountable entities, and defined timelines, as well as continued efforts in research, workforce development, and economic and policy planning.
View the full report here:
E. Whitney, M. Koleva, L. Kilcher, J. Raun, "Alaska Hydrogen Opportunities Report," Alaska Center for Energy and Power, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, 2024. UAF/ACEP/TP-05-0001. DOI:10.5281/zenodo.10896075