Accelera by Cummins partners with Gevo and Zero6 Energy for first sustainable aviation project

Accelera™ by Cummins is supplying Gevo and Zero6 Energy with the electrolyzer technology for a 20-megawatt (MW) hydrogen production facility. The Accelera electrolyzer system will provide zero-emissions hydrogen for an adjacent bio-refinery. This project will help Gevo in their path to decarbonizing their liquid transportation fuels and their long-term goal of developing zero emissions fuel and chemical products. 

Bringing clean hydrogen to the Midwest
Green hydrogen has been gaining momentum in the Midwest region of the U.S. as a way to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries like transportation and aviation, steel, chemical and agriculture. 

The 20MW hydrogen production facility will be in Lake Preston, South Dakota. With growing government incentives and support for reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to clean energy, the Midwest is emerging as an ideal environment for green hydrogen production with its vast renewable resources. 

The production of green hydrogen in the Midwest is a key step in diversifying the region's energy portfolio and playing a crucial role in the development of a sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Accelera’s first project in sustainable aviation fuel
Accelera is a well-established supplier of zero-emissions technologies for a variety of applications including trucks, buses, rail and stationary power. But in a significant step forward in innovation, Accelera is providing the electrolyzer technology that will be used to create Gevo’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—Accelera’s first foray in the SAF field. 

Because the aviation sector is a substantial contributor to carbon emissions, growing the sustainable aviation industry is a key step in accelerating the shift to a zero-emissions future. By investing in the adoption of technologies that can help produce SAF, the industry can achieve reductions in carbon emissions and air pollutants. Moreover, the development and widespread implementation of sustainable aviation solutions serves as a catalyst for innovation, driving advancements in carbon-free technology. 

A thriving sustainable aviation industry not only enables airlines to operate in an environmentally responsible manner, but also fosters a global shift towards sustainable transportation systems, inspiring other sectors to follow suit and accelerating the overall transition to a greener, cleaner tomorrow.

Accelera’s electrolyzer technology
Accelera will supply Gevo and Zero6 Energy’s project with a 20MW electrolyzer system comprised of four HyLYZER®-1000 proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. The electrolyzer system can produce up to 8 tons of hydrogen per day.

An electrolyzer splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. When powered by renewable electricity, the hydrogen produced is carbon free. This green hydrogen can be stored as a compressed gas or a liquid and used as an energy-dense, clean power source. Hydrogen is essential for industrial processes, including ammonia production for fertilizers and fuel for fuel cell applications such as buses, trucks and trains. 

Accelera currently powers the world’s largest PEM electrolyzer system in operation in Bécancour, Quebec, has a 90MW electrolyzer project with Varennes Carbon Recycling in Quebec to turn non-recyclable waste into biofuels and circular chemicals, and is supplying a 35MW PEM electrolyzer system to Linde in New York which will be powered by hydropower, making the end-product green and carbon-free hydrogen. With other electrolyzer projects around the world, Accelera is committed to accelerating the shift to a zero-emissions hydrogen economy in the Midwest and across the globe.