The City of Columbia and Columbia clean energy companies rejuvenate hydrogen fueling site
July 31, 2024
The City of Columbia has partnered with Columbia-based companies aich2 and ImaGEN to rejuvenate a hydrogen refueling station, marking a significant milestone in the region’s clean energy journey.
The rejuvenated fueling site will serve as a demonstration hub and catalyst for future hydrogen projects, supporting the City of Columbia’s plans to launch a hydrogen bus system. The combined growth of these projects will enhance the local economy and establish the Midlands as a leader in hydrogen technology.
City of Columbia Mayor Rickenmann speaks on the potential this Hydrogen fueling station provides to the future of our City.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our community,” said City of Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. “It allows us to transition our bus system to clean energy and position the Midlands as a hydrogen energy leader through this revolutionary technology.”
In 2023, the City of Columbia leased the former fueling station to ImaGEN, envisioning a safer and more efficient hydrogen fueling system. ImaGEN’s new, innovative Tru-H2 hydrogen generation system overcomes challenges that once faced the older fueling station and offers a viable path of power for the station.
“The system works by storing hydrogen as a solid and generating it directly at the point of use,” said Ron Seftick, ImaGEN CEO. “This approach ensures safe and efficient transportation in any quantity—something no other hydrogen energy solution can accomplish.”
To accelerate the commercialization of this groundbreaking technology, ImaGEN partnered with clean energy company aich2. Founded with the mission to combine the technology and talent needed to accelerate the hydrogen revolution, aich2 is dedicated to transforming large parts of the economy through hydrogen energy. This fueling station is just one piece of a broader effort by the team, which also includes plans to render existing backup power generators obsolete with a hydrogen-based competitor.
Eric Brown, CEO and Co-Founder of aich2; Daniel J. Rickenmann, Mayor of the City of Columbia; Ron Seftick, CEO of ImaGEN; John Patton, Vice President of Technology at ImaGEN (left to right)
“This technology enables hydrogen energy to scale across our economy at an unprecedented pace compared to traditional methods,” said Eric Brown, aich2 CEO and Co-Founder. “Our solution could be deployed to fueling stations across North America well before existing hydrogen hub plans come to fruition.”
