Invenergy’s Sauk Valley hydrogen facility and co-located solar array sit adjacent to the Nelson natural gas facility in Rock Falls, Illinois.
The five-acre site will generate up to 40 tonnes (t) of clean hydrogen annually, leveraging power from Invenergy’s adjacent solar facility and electrolyser technology from Ohmium International.
Ohmium CEO Arne Ballantine stated: We are thrilled that our cutting-edge PEM [proton exchange membrane] electrolyser technology is making this clean hydrogen resource a reality. This is a significant step toward a sustainable energy future and we are eager to see its positive impact across sectors.”
In addition to clean hydrogen production, the Sauk Valley facility can store up to 400kg of clean hydrogen on-site.
Invenergy Engineering and Technology executive vice-president Joel Schroeder stated: “A broad range of industries have identified the immense potential of clean hydrogen, and I am extremely proud that Invenergy has again invested in the talent and technology to pioneer a new energy asset with multiple end users.”
The initial hydrogen supply from Sauk Valley was utilised at the Nelson Energy Center, a 980MW natural gas facility operated by Invenergy, where it served as a cooling agent for turbine generators.
The facility has been designed with the capability to load and transport hydrogen for offsite use.
Green energy supplier Certarus will deliver the first offsite hydrogen order from Sauk Valley to an Aether Fuels project.
Invenergy Hydrogen vice-president Jon Horek stated: “Invenergy’s significant renewables portfolio allows our team to produce clean hydrogen for ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors of the economy across the country at scale, for huge hydrogen consumers such as liquid fuels and chemicals plants. We are excited to supply Aether with hydrogen from Sauk Valley, demonstrating our unique market capabilities and strong partnerships.”
Sauk Valley Hydrogen represents the 22nd clean energy project that Invenergy has developed in Illinois.
Invenergy and its affiliates have developed more than 33GW of projects across the wind, solar, transmission, natural gas and energy storage, spanning operational, under-construction and contracted phases.
In January 2025, Invenergy secured a $1.1bn debt financing facility for three utility-scale solar projects planned to be developed in Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee.
