Amazon is taking a significant step towards sustainability by initiating on-site hydrogen fuel production at its fulfillment centers. Partnering with Plug Power, Amazon has installed its first electrolyzer at a facility in Aurora, Colorado, which will generate hydrogen to power approximately 225 forklift trucks. This move aligns with Amazon’s broader goal to decarbonize its operations by 2040.
The electrolyzer, capable of fueling up to 400 hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts, represents Amazon’s commitment to using cleaner energy sources within its vast logistics network. Hydrogen, when produced sustainably, offers a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels since it emits only water vapor upon combustion. However, the environmental benefits hinge on the production process. Currently, most hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, releasing carbon dioxide and methane, potent greenhouse gases.
Plug Power’s electrolyzers aim to circumvent this issue by using electricity—ideally from renewable sources—to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, creating green hydrogen. While this process is environmentally friendly, it remains costlier than traditional methods.
The Biden administration’s policies, including tax incentives and federal funding, are designed to support cleaner hydrogen production. Although Amazon’s current electrolyzer is grid-connected, with 60% of US electricity still derived from fossil fuels, the company is exploring options to pair it with on-site renewable energy generation. Amazon’s ultimate objective is to match its operations’ electricity use with renewable energy by 2025 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, despite a reported 39% increase in its carbon footprint since making this pledge.
Amazon thinks hydrogen can be a more sustainable fuel for vehicles at its warehouses, but it’ll have to clean up hydrogen production first.
Source: Amazon plans to make its own hydrogen to power vehicles – The Verge