The future of energy is here, and Catch Engineering – as always – is prepared and equipped with the knowledge and skillsets to be your partner of choice in leading the way ahead.
Take the emerging hydrogen energy sector, for example. Where most other engineering firms are only beginning to develop strategies in this space, Catch is already well-versed in the technology and has collaborated on various hydrogen projects across North America. It’s all part of the Catch Difference in leading the way for our clients and colleagues alike, giving our customers the expert support they need while helping our people develop their skill sets and grow their careers all at once.
To give us a bit of a closer look at Catch’s ongoing work in hydrogen energy, we’re joined today by Galina Harris – Catch’s VP Projects – to give us a rundown on this innovative new field and Catch’s involvement in it.
Pushing Clean Energy Forward with Hydrogen
A Look at the Process
When people think hydrogen, they often simply imagine an alternate type of fuel that they’ll use to power their vehicles – but that’s only half the story regarding this versatile form of energy.
Beyond just the potential to power cars and trucks, hydrogen also holds a key position within the production space. This industry currently finds itself in a state of evolution, pushing toward just the sort of sustainable energy solutions that hydrogen is beginning to make possible.
“Fertilizer production is a huge industry that’s currently undergoing a major shift toward a hydrogen-based process,” Harris informed us on the subject. “We also continue to take advantage of hydrogen in the traditional energy production space and are eagerly looking forward to its imminent adoption within the automotive industry – particularly within the fleet sector, where the technology’s starting to gain some real traction.”
The beauty of hydrogen as a clean energy solution is how it is produced, Harris explains. “You simply take plain H20 and run it through an electrolysis process. The water is split into hydrogen and oxygen atoms – that’s it. There’s nothing toxic, no harmful by-products; the oxygen gets vented into the air, and the hydrogen is collected and stored.
That sounds futuristic enough to be the stuff of science fiction – but how does Catch Engineering work to factor into this pioneering technology? More directly than you might imagine.
Building on a Strong Foundation of Knowledge
Regarding Catch’s involvement in the burgeoning hydrogen industry, the hook is in the description Harris gave us about the interconnection process requirements.
“There’s a huge electrical component to hydrogen production,” Harris explained. “The interconnection between AC and DC varies with each piece of equipment in the hydrogen production and storage process. And here at Catch, we happen to be skilled in the practice of electrical engineering. So while the industry is working to figure out how to incorporate this innovation into existing infrastructure, technologies, and equipment – how to make it efficient and actually function – our team is ready with the electrical knowledge and expertise to help push things forward.”
That isn’t just a go-forward plan, either; Catch is already putting that engineering expertise into practice within the hydrogen sector, setting standards and collaborating on projects.
Catch is Already Defining the Field
Catch’s leadership within the hydrogen space is far more than a plan or a near-term opportunity – it’s an already well-underway initiative.
“We’ve already put together two FEED (Front-End Engineering Design) projects in the US,” Harris detailed. “Both of them have been approved for the next step of detailed design,and one we are working through now – that specific project will begin construction later this year and is a hydrogen pilot plant that’s 1.5 MW in size. The second project is in the earlier stages and related to a larger plant closer to 3.0 MW in size. Both these projects are considered green hydrogen as they are incorporating existing and new solar farms into the designs.”
Beyond the opportunity of these exciting and innovative projects, Catch is making additional inroads within the field of hydrogen energy by working to define the industry itself. It’s one of the first engineering firms to develop definitive in-house specifications guides for the business and its clients.
“What sets Catch apart is that we already have detailed hydrogen piping specifications created and on hand,” Harris informed us. “That’s a huge thing that the large majority of other firms have yet to accomplish. You need specs to do the work, to build a plant – and not many other organizations in our industry have the tailored specifications to run hydrogen through a pipe ready to go right now.”
Established specifications translate into a lot of legwork that’s already been taken care of, which means a much more turnkey project experience when it comes to you and your endeavor – and it’s hard to argue with results like that!
A big thank-you goes out to Galina Harris for taking the time today to chat hydrogen with us – your knowledge and expertise couldn’t be appreciated more!
Do you have a hydrogen energy project you want to make a reality? Lead the industry with like-minded innovators, and contact us at Catch to learn how we can support your groundbreaking idea today.
