GE Vernova’s H2-LOCATE Project Obtains DOE Support, Accelerates Hydrogen Economy

GE Vernova’s Advanced Research segment was chosen by the Department of Energy (DOE) to receive an award under the H2SENSE Exploratory Topic—a program run by the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) that supports technologies for gas detection and quantification across the hydrogen supply chain.

The company’s $2.7 million hydrogen detection project is called H2-LOCATE, an acronym for: H2 Leak LOCAlization and QuanTification Using Physics-Enhanced Analytics and Fence-Line Monitoring. GE Vernova is testing H2-LOCATE at its Advanced Research Center in Niskayuna, NY. This detection system may facilitate hydrogen production and transportation, as well as reducing emissions during these processes.

H2-LOCATE; image credit: GE Vernova

“GE Vernova Advanced Research will deploy a high-fidelity and cost-effective gas sensing technology based on dielectric excitation of sensing materials and will couple it with physics enhanced analytics to detect and identify hydrogen leaks at industrial sites,” says Radislav A. Potyrailo, Senior Principal Scientist with GE Vernova's Advanced Research and the Principal Investigator on the H2-LOCATE project. “This technology will differentiate and rank multiple leaks with a spatial resolution of 10 meters with a detection sensitivity of 5-10 parts per billion of hydrogen in air. The cost-effective and simple deployment of these hydrogen leak monitors will support the evaluation of hydrogen sites across diverse geographic locations and climate conditions, ensuring safe, environmentally sound, and economically viable growth of the hydrogen industry.”

Hydrogen Background

Atmospheric hydrogen detection technologies will play a decarbonizing role as hydrogen production, transportation, and infrastructure expands, minimizing the projected near-term warming effects caused by a large hydrogen economy. Hydrogen itself is a low-carbon energy used to decarbonize industry and transportation; also, it does not classify as a greenhouse gas (GHG) due to its inability to absorb infrared light. However, hydrogen can indirectly lengthen the lifecycle of GHGs such as methane and ozone.

“The ability to detect and quantify hydrogen will enable the safe and economical expansion of the hydrogen economy while mitigating its climate impact,” said Dr. Evelyn Wang, ARPA-E Director. “These highly sensitive and selective hydrogen sensors combined with quantitative modeling will enable industry to achieve these goals.”

HySAGE AI

In September 2024, the DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office selected GE Vernova to lead a project to enable permitting and safety for hydrogen deployment. The project has the following objective: to identify the primary challenges of siting, permitting, and installation across the value chain from hydrogen production to end-use. GE Vernova will lead a project team called H2Net, including Clemson University and Roper Mountain Science Center based in Greenville, SC. The company will enter award negotiations with the DOE valued at $1 million to finalize the terms and scope of the project. As part of the program, H2Net will develop an AI assistant trained on the relevant, critical documents for safe hydrogen handling and permitting.

The AI Assistant, called HySAGE—Hydrogen Smart Assistant for Governance Execution—will be validated against requirements and lessons from GE Vernova’s Gas Turbine Manufacturing and Technology Center in Greenville. HySAGE will enable modeling capability and flexibility for incorporating codes, standards, and environmental scenarios, increasing the versatility and accuracy of the tool.