US ZERO-CARBON H2 REGULATION

1. The challenges and opportunities of zero-carbon hydrogen in the US

The hydrogen industry in the US was gearing up to focus on blue hydrogen until the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) announced specific subsidies for producing low to zero carbon hydrogen. This small shift has made a huge difference, positioning the US renewable hydrogen industry in the international pole position; and unleashing a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow an innovative business whilst decarbonizing the economy.

This session will delve into the zero-carbon hydrogen industry, it´s market opportunities and the new policies that affect your projects by incentivizing and supporting the production of zero-carbon hydrogen such as the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the Buy Clean Initiative.

• Discover the impact of recent policies in the American hydrogen economy and the opportunity for decades of exponential growth it unlocks
• Navigate the new regulatory landscape, to design and position your business to get ahead of your competition by mastering the standard permits and authorizations your project will need
• Translate government support and incentives to value propositions for your business by lowering your costs and increasing the efficiency of your operations

2. Regulation and permitting of zero-carbon hydrogen projects

Government regulation exerts a considerable impact on the way businesses work and can spell the difference between a healthy business that quickly goes commercial, and one stuck in development. Knowing how to traverse the regulatory environment of your hydrogen business—wherever you locate it—is indispensable to manage an efficient permitting process.

Some regulation is still uncertain, but companies need to begin permitting processes immediately to become a leader in the space. In this module, we go through the regulation and permitting steps for your hydrogen projects to gain its permits as soon as possible.

• Achieve boss-level knowledge of federal regulations to speed up your permitting process to avoid the pitfalls of increased project and development costs
• Hear from regulators at the state level as they take you on a guided tour of the exemplary regulations from the most developed hydrogen markets in the United States: California, Texas and New York
• Attract lenders and investors to your hydrogen business by clearing regulatory red flags and permitting your project fast and efficiently

3. C- level panel: The role of large renewable hydrogen producers in creating a sustainable, commercially viable and competitive ecosystem in the US

With the help of the IRA and other policies, zero-carbon hydrogen is competitive with the grey and blue variety immediately, helping decarbonizing industry faster to counteract the climate crisis. Join this session to hear a panel of industry executive representing some of the largest zero-carbon H2 producers in the US talk about the opportunities for the industry to grow in the next years and to become competitive with grey and blue hydrogen without the subsidies. Learn about their plans for consistent growth and to build a national commercially viable and competitive industry.

• Listen to the role of private companies in generating demand to reach economies of scale and transform the energy landscape
• Analyze the challenges in sourcing of key equipment, components and materials required to build renewable hydrogen projects
• Consider what infrastructure is necessary to guarantee the future of the hydrogen market, and where the investments to build it will come from
• Learn what factors contribute to reducing zero-carbon hydrogen costs and boosting the commercial viability of a project
• Apply a business model based on alliances and collaboration as the key project success

HYDROGEN MARKETS & LCOH

4. The impact of international context on zero-carbon hydrogen projects in the US

The IRA has quickly positioned the US market in the pole position with clear subsidies to produce zero-carbon H2. However, other markets such as the European Union, Chile and markets in the Middle East have also entered the international race.

In this session we analyze the international context of zero-carbon hydrogen, the lessons learnt and best practice from these experiences and we examine supply chain bottlenecks and their effect in the growth of the US market.

• Study the zero-carbon LCOH international project map and see how different markets are setting objectives to decarbonize their industries
• Compare the global demand for electrolyzers with the production capacities of the main companies and consider whether their availability can affect the timing and costs of your projects in the US
• Estimate the impact on your project of increased global raw material and logistics costs and how to counteract them
• Evaluate plans for renewable hydrogen development in other markets, and consider to what extent they could affect the development of your projects
• Assess bottlenecks in procurement of electrolyzers and other key equipment and hear strategies to counter act these issues

5. Zero-carbon hydrogen demand in the US

Today, around 10 million metric tons of hydrogen are consumed annually in the United States, mainly in oil refining, fertilizer production and the chemical industry. In the short term, these industries are very likely to be the largest purchasers of renewable hydrogen, but in the medium term there are other industries, such as land mobility, air and sea transport, and metallurgy, which could be major consumers of green H2.

• Listen to key consumers of renewable hydrogen in North America – what they use it for, how much they need, and at what price
• Explore the industries that need hydrogen to understand exactly what they need and for what uses
• Consider contractual structures between consumers and hydrogen buyers such as Hydrogen Purchase Agreements (HPAs)
• Analyze which industries and at what price are looking to buy renewable H2 in the US and where they are located

6. Pioneering renewable hydrogen projects in the US

Across the US there are many zero-carbon hydrogen projects in different stages of development; but not all projects are the same. In this session, those responsible for the most cutting-edge projects share their experiences to help your own green hydrogen project take off.

• Discover the business models of each renewable hydrogen project and how projects are structured to minimize commercial, technological, and financial risks
• Consider how other companies have navigated the regulatory uncertainty and other challenges that are present in all large projects
• Explore the characteristics of valley and injection-type projects, and what solutions they have put in place to ensure hydrogen supply to the purchaser

BANKABILITY AND PROJECT FINANCE

7. Conceptualizing and designing bankable zero-carbon hydrogen projects

Considering renewable hydrogen is a new technology with limited bankability precedent, project developers will need to work with lenders, investors and financial institutions from early on to make sure the projects are solid valid propositions. In this session the leading financial and legal advisors will disclose how to make your project raise to the top of the bankability list.

• Find out what precisely are the features of a ´bankable´ hydrogen project, and what factors influence lenders and investors in assessing whether to invest in a project
• Receive a masterclass on how to align your company´s financials with the baseline requirements of investors and lenders: financial ratios, risk profile and mitigating commitments
• Get comfortable with risk mitigating measures to bolster your financials and the bankability of the project: financial guarantees, sponsor guarantees and performance guarantees among others

8. Tax equity financing and its impact on the zero-carbon hydrogen industry

The mechanism of tax equity financing in the United States is critical to projects in a nascent industry such as hydrogen, particularly with the boost from the IRA to the ITCs for renewable technologies and storage. In this session we analyze in depth how to leverage tax equity financing for zero-carbon projects and getting your deal through the financing phase.

• From ITCs for renewables to other tax credits – make sense of the structure and functioning of tax equity arrangements that your zero-carbon hydrogen project requires to thrive
• Learn to engage in a practical assessment of the delivery of federal financial support using the tax equity financing mechanism
• Explore policy options related to tax credits that rely on tax equity and how they can mean lower LCOH for your zero-carbon hydrogen

9. The role of green banks for your renewable hydrogen projects

The creation of America´s first national green bank is the hidden jewel in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), representing some USD27 B in financial assistance for communities to expand clean energy deployment and enable a rapid transition away from fossil fuels. In this session, you will become an expert and capitalize on the untapped potential of this type of green investment area.

• Discover what is the American National Green Bank, how it will work, what it and how you can leverage it to develop your Zero-Carbon Hydrogen business
• Master how your company can access funding from green banks to develop nascent renewable energy industries and bring critical funds to communities to achieve climate goals
• Get hold of a competitive advantage as you maneuver green bank funding for your Zero-Carbon Hydrogen business in unexplored and emerging local markets in the United States

10. How to structure and wrap the financing for your zero-carbon hydrogen project

Since there is very limited track record in structuring financial deals for zero-carbon hydrogen, structuring and wrapping a project will take getting your lender or investor in line and ready to design the deal. This module is about the basic features and structuring of a Hydrogen Project. Whether you´re looking to participate in a Hydrogen hub, a Hydrogen production or delivery facility, there are certain common features to a Hydrogen project deal that industry players need to be aware of.

• Learn how to structure your project finance to minimize weighted average cost of capital (WACC) across debt financing, equity financing and corporate financing
• Get top proven financial advice from experts in the field so your renewable hydrogen project gets ahead of the competition for funds
• Understand how to negotiate your hydrogen purchase agreements (HPAs) with different off-takers, and how the HPA affects the wrapping of your project

DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF ZERO-CARBON H2 PROJECTS

11. Overcoming zero-carbon hydrogen project development, construction and operation challenges

In this session we analyze in detail best practice to develop renewable hydrogen projects quickly and efficiently, overcoming known challenges that come up in the way. We also look at business models to make your project profitable.

• Analyze the business models of zero-carbon hydrogen and how to make the proposition work well after the subsidies run out
• Discover the different components of project development impacting cost, where your CAPEX is non-negotiable, how to keep expenses under control and other unexpected operational tips and tricks from those in the know.
• Learn to design your project and business model to work around the Hydrogen economy landscape and take your project to scale

12. Design, construction and operation of renewable hydrogen projects to maximize efficiency and profitability

The competitiveness of renewable hydrogen vs gray hydrogen has improved thanks to the rising price of natural gas. However, there is still a long way to go to reduce the production costs of renewable hydrogen so that it can displace fossil hydrogen in all uses. An important part of this cost reduction involves optimizing projects at all stages: from initial conception to delivery of the hydrogen to the end customer. In this session, experts will discuss how to ensure abundant and affordable renewable electricity, and electrolyzer operation strategies to obtain renewable hydrogen at the lowest possible price.

• Compare the merits of different renewable hydrogen generation plant designs, such as those operating with direct-connected renewable plants to plants with grid-connected virtual renewable PPAs
• Analyze the business case for up-scaling and down-scaling electrolyzer operating hours vs. 24/7 operation to determine which best suits your project
• Understand how to size an electrolyzer correctly depending on the intended use of the project and the specific hydrogen quality and pressure required by the off-taker
• Examine the optimized way to operate electrolyzers to ensure longer life while maintaining high performance and minimizing down times

13. Electrolysis technologies for efficient industrial-scale renewable hydrogen production

Electrolyzers are essential in the process of obtaining green hydrogen from water and renewable energy. In this session we discuss the different kinds of electrolyzer technology available and their potential commercial use including the cost.

• Compare the commercial maturity, track record, cost and growth potential of the main commercial electrolyzer technologies for your projects.
• Understand the advantages and disadvantages of alkaline, PEM and SOEC electrolyzers and innovative AEM and photoelectrocatalysis for renewable hydrogen production
• Hear directly from electrolyzer manufacturers and technologists about the current state of the art technology and how they will reduce costs and scale in the coming years
• Consider the bottlenecks to scaling up quickly and effectively: electrolyzer size, material availability, manufacturing capabilities, life cycle, etc.
• Learn about electrolyzer design and sizing, starting with basic components such as compressors and power electronics

STORAGE, TRANSPORT & INFRASTRUCTURE OF HYDROGEN

14. Large-scale renewable hydrogen storage and transportation

Large-scale hydrogen storage, transportation and distribution is essential to the competitiveness of renewable hydrogen because many of the industries that consume H2 on a large scale are not located in locations suitable for on-site production of renewable hydrogen.

To maximize the competitiveness of renewable hydrogen, large-scale production at locations with access to cheap and abundant renewable electricity is ideal, and the hydrogen is then transported to consumption centers. In this session you will have access to practical information on the different options for large-scale storage and transportation of renewable hydrogen.

• Get to know more about injecting H2 into the gas grid, how much can be injected and how
• Learn about the feasibility of building dedicated hydrogen-only networks and when they could be operational
• Find out what modifications need to be made to pipelines, compressors and other equipment to enable them to safely transport hydrogen
• Discuss different options for storing hydrogen, such as subway storage in salt caves, compression vessels, liquefaction, or liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs)
• Understand the implications of large-scale storage, transportation and distribution of hydrogen to the competitiveness of renewable hydrogen

15. Overcoming hydrogen infrastructure challenges

Building out and developing a supply chain and infrastructure fit for the hydrogen economy, on the scale and at the pace envisaged by the US Government, is one of the major bottlenecks in the industry. An undeveloped infrastructure environment presents a major hindrance for industry development. Every challenge, however, can be an opportunity to create value for your business as we will study in this session.

• Get the low-down on the infrastructure projects in the pipeline, in the commercial phase and currently under construction so you stay ahead of the competition in securing your value chain
• Hear how hydrogen hubs bring together players across the supply chain to collaborate in infrastructure, creating an opportunity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to grow fast as part of a large project
• Understand the potential for existing infrastructure to be retrofitted and be brought up to hydrogen standards

ZERO CARBON CHEMICALS & SYNTHETIC FUELS

16. Zero-carbon ammonia and methanol and renewable fuels

Ammonia, methanol and other chemicals represent an opportunity to transport hydrogen safely because they are easier to store and transport. In addition, there is already a thriving market for these chemicals, giving them clear routes to market; and a growing decarbonization effort both in the US and abroad. In that session we focused on the medium-term market for these renewable chemicals and renewable fuels.

• Examine the opportunities for ammonia and other renewable chemicals in the short and medium term – what is the appetite now and what is foreseen in the future?
• Analyze the process of generating chemicals and fuels from renewable hydrogen, the technology, plant design, energy consumed and costs of by-products
• Real-world case studies of projects focused on the renewable generation of ammonia, methanol or other renewable fuels
• Learn about the CO2 and NH3 value chain for your synthetic fuel projects and how other markets such as Saudi Arabia and Chile are taking the lead in these projects

FAIR TRANSITION AND LOCAL MANUFACTURING

17. Fair transition and positive local impact, ESG and American manufacturing

The latest pieces of legislation establish a clear mandate to protect the environment and the local communities around the renewable and zero-carbon H2 projects.

The economic and social impact on the local communities is an important component of project development that you need to manage. For example, many projects have built-in programs to train and employ the local population, procure from companies where the project is based and foster the development of the communities that are close to the project. Such projects also tend to make for better relationships with communities and local economy and help you fulfil the federal requirements. In this session we analyze the opportunities to protect the environment following federal requirements while incentivizing cooperation from the local communities.

• Explore how your zero-carbon H2 projects can be an important driver of local development and how to maximize the positive impacts of your H2 project on the community
• Understand the importance of a local value chain and benefiting the national economy
• Apply circular economy principles to your H2 project and prepare to reuse and recycle your equipment at the end of its useful life