Honeywell has launched an AI-assisted suite which they’ve said can make green hydrogen production more efficient, cost-effective and scalable.
The Honeywell Protonium will first be deployed by Aternium at Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey’s Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub (MACH2) – one of the seven US hydrogen hubs previously backed by the Department of Energy (DOE).
Protonium will reportedly use AI to lower the levelised cost of hydrogen (LCOH) through smarter plant design, enhance electrolyser performance through real-time monitoring, and integrate digital twins and predictive analytics to streamline energy usage and operations to reduce OPEX.
Honeywell has said the solution will address industry challenges such as intermittent power supply, high production costs and carbon intensity.
“Our selection of the Honeywell Protonium portfolio for our planned Mid-Atlantic sites was a strategic decision to ensure we operate with the highest efficiency and safety standards,” explained Andrew Cottone, CEO and Founder of Aternium.
However, last month Politico reported that the DOE could axe funding for clean hydrogen hub developments in Democratic-leaning states.
That would include MACH2; Oregon, Washington and Montana’s Pacific North West (PNWH2); California’s Arches hub; and Illinois, Indiana and Michigan’s MachH2.
When approached for comment following the announcement that its Protonium system will be deployed at MACH2, Honeywell said it was “unable to comment on this specific topic at this time.”
A group of 27 Democratic senators even warned US Energy Secretary Chris Wright earlier this month that revoking funding for clean hydrogen hubs, battery projects and more would be illegal and harmful to energy consumers.
Nevertheless, Lewis Sweet, GM of Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals at Honeywell, told H2 View that the firm’s Protonium product will provide a critical layer of commercial and technical risk mitigation.
“In the current landscape where funding and policy frameworks for green hydrogen are still evolving, AI-led platforms like Honeywell Protonium play a pivotal role in enhancing the commercial resilience and bankability of projects,” Sweet said.
