Cummins Inc. has said that it will explore a strategic alliance with energy giant Chevron to develop business opportunities in hydrogen and other alternative energy sources.
The Columbus-based company announced Thursday that it had entered into a memorandum of understanding that will provide a framework for the two corporations to collaborate, Cummins said.
Initially, the two companies would work together to, among other things, advance public policy that promotes hydrogen as a decarbonizing solution for transportation and industry, develop infrastructure to support the use of hydrogen for industry and fuel cell vehicles and explore opportunities to leverage Cummins electrolyzer and fuel cell technologies at one or more of Chevron’s domestic refineries.
“Working with Chevron to advance hydrogen technology and accelerate ecosystem development helps us continue our goal in enabling a carbon-neutral world,” said Amy Davis, vice president and president of Cummins’ New Power business segment, in a statement.
The announcement came just days after Cummins revealed that is testing a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine that would have near-zero carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Last year, Cummins unveiled plans for how it intends to ramp up its fuel cell and hydrogen production business in the coming years amid a global push to curb greenhouse gas emissions and avert the threat of catastrophic climate change.
The plans, which company officials outlined during a virtual conference in November, largely involve investing in and producing technology they believe will help the company secure its place in a world that is shifting away from fossil fuels.
Cummins expects green hydrogen to play an important role in cutting emissions in some of the industries that are most dependent on fossil fuels and now face strict climate targets in many countries.
“The energy transition is happening, and we recognize the critical role hydrogen will play in our energy mix,” Davis said. “We’ve deployed more than 2,000 fuel cells and 600 electrolyzers around the world and are exploring other hydrogen alternatives including a hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine as we continue to accelerate and harness hydrogen’s powerful potential.”
