AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- It is the least busiest gas station in all of Texas because there is only one person in the state who can buy what it's selling. It's a hydrogen vehicle fueling dispenser and it's located on University of Texas at Austin's J.J. Pickle Research Campus in north Austin. The facility is known as a hydrogen proto-hub. The team at the hub is studying multiple forms of hydrogen production and uses, like how to fuel up hydrogen-powered vehicles. It is the only facility of its kind and it will not only help train the future workforce, but also demonstrate how a hydrogen ecosystem can function on a statewide level. "This facility is going to be a proving ground for future hydrogen technologies," Michael Lewis, the director UT Austin's Center for Electromechanics, explained. Texas is a global leader in hydrogen production as it is used for the petrochemical and fertilizer industries. Hydrogen produces water vapor when it is burned, making it a clean-burning fuel. However, producing hydrogen can create carbon emissions. The proto-hub is using water electrolysis and steam methane reformation of renewable natural gas to produce its hydrogen. Water electrolysis is an electrical process that separates hydrogen and oxygen molecules without carbon emissions. The resulting hydrogen gas can be used for hydrogen fuel, and the only by-product is oxygen. The stationary fuel cell provides 100kW of clean power to run a super computer at a nearby building (Photo Courtesy: Nexstar). However, the electricity used to for water electrolysis needs to come from renewable energy to be considered clean. The proto-hub is using solar and wind power to run its electrolysis. That resulting hydrogen energy is being used to power a stationary fuel cell in the proto-hub. That fuel cell is providing 100 kW of clean power to the Texas Advanced Computing Center across the street from the hub. It's just a drop in the bucket of the power that building consumes, but it's still proof that different forms of clean energy can be used to power heavy energy consumers. Lewis said it will be important to find cleaner forms of electricity as more centers will start popping up on the electrical grid. Data centers consume massive amounts of power and are part of the reason the state's main electric grid operator is predicting energy demand will nearly double in the next five years. The proto-hub opened in April this year and Lewis said they are continuing to study what problems come with cleanly producing hydrogen. Lewis said the manufacturing supply chain is an issue, as it makes it hard to find parts for replacements if needed. "So we hope that lessons from this site can apply to what we'll be doing with policy later down the road as well," Lewis said. Last legislative session, a bill filed by State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, created the Texas Hydrogen Production Policy Council. The 11-member council released its first report to state legislators this year highlighting the need for growing the state's ability to transfer, store, and produce hydrogen energy. An important recommendation from the report, according to Brian Korgel, a professor of chemical engineering at UT Austin and a member of the council, was making sure Texas was using an 'all of the above' approach when it comes to energy. "If we want to position Texas as the global leader of hydrogen then Texas needs to have as much of that clean power as possible," Korgel said. One of the challenges facing the industry is a lack of infrastructure in place, Lewis explained. Hydrogen is extremely light weight, which can make it difficult to transport. Lewis said the need for hydrogen pipelines will be essential in connecting hydrogen producers with hydrogen consumers in the future, but it will cost money. The report from the council said Texas should pass policy that encourages the growth of the infrastructure. It also highlights the state's good track record when it comes to hydrogen safety. The report recommends continuing the regulations that are already in place. In a statement, Darby responded to the report saying, "Texas is already the hydrogen capital of the world. The continued growth of hydrogen production with new, innovative technologies in this state will be an economic boom for our energy sector, creating thousands of jobs and incentivizing billions in direct economic investment─ especially in the rural parts of West Texas that I represent in the House. Of course, the state must proactively ensure we create a business-friendly environment for hydrogen development while balancing the needs of our communities." The report does state it expects a huge economic benefit from the hydrogen industry. It estimates an annual GDP of $100 billion from the hydrogen industry alone. Darby said he intends to follow the recommendations from the council in the upcoming session, "specifically as they relate to expanding hydrogen pipeline infrastructure and promoting responsible water use. By fostering a productive business environment, we can continue our all-of-the-above approach to energy, which will dramatically boost our economy and lower costs for Texans."