On Monday, Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), a subsidiary of energy infrastructure firm Sempra Energy and the largest gas distribution utility in the United States, said that it is committing $1.3 million to develop four hydrogen fuel technologies to support emissions-free transportation for railways and at ports in California and globally. The funding will help to commercialize technologies like fuel-cell marine vessels, hydrogen refueling stations at marine ports, and fuel cell locomotives.
The four projects were selected for funding through the California Energy Commission’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstrations in Rail and Marine Applications at Ports (H2RAM) grant program. In addition to $1.3 million in direct funding from SoCalGas, the CEC has agreed to provide $10.4 million to fund the research and development of these projects, bringing total funding for this hydrogen R&D push to around $11.7 million.
“SoCalGas is thrilled to support these important hydrogen technology projects,” said Neil Navin, vice president of clean energy innovations at SoCalGas. “Projects like these have the potential to create more zero-emissions transportation and reduce the cost of hydrogen fueling infrastructure, consistent with California’s climate goals. SoCalGas remains committed to helping California reach these goals and our support of innovative clean fuel projects like these demonstrates that commitment.”
Project partners include maritime fuel cell maker Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine, Illinois research non-profit Gas Technology Institute (GTI), and California clean-tech consultancy CALSTART.
“GTI is proud to partner with SoCalGas on this important project and greatly appreciates their support. This project will use hydrogen to provide zero-emission locomotive operations in a port and a designated disadvantaged community, which directly aligns with GTI’s core goals,” said Ted Barnes, GTI’s research and development director.
“As California looks toward advancing our strategies for emissions reductions, transportation applications that use hydrogen and fuel cells will play a key role,” said California Assembly member Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). “I am pleased to see SoCalGas, in partnership with the CEC, supporting the development of these innovative projects, especially in the 7th Assembly District. These efforts are timely with the Governor’s executive order that requires all new cars and passenger trucks sold in California to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. It’s important that we all work together to propel California forward into the future of clean energy.”
SoCalGas is advancing a number of other low- and zero-carbon energy technologies. Late last year, the company announced the creation of a Hydrogen Blending Demonstration Program to study blending hydrogen in its gas system, so it can ultimately recommend a hydrogen injection standard for regulatory approval.
It also announced it will build a home to demonstrate the use of hydrogen produced from solar energy in microgrids. Called the “H2 Hydrogen Home,” the project will use solar panels to create electricity that can be used to produce green hydrogen via electrolysis. The hydrogen will be blended with natural gas for the home’s appliances as well as converted back to electricity using a residential fuel cell.
In addition, SoCalGas will field test a new technology that separates and compresses hydrogen from a blend of hydrogen and natural gas, allowing hydrogen to be delivered wherever a natural gas distribution system exists.
SoCalGas provides service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for home heating, hot water, and other other uses. About 45 percent of California’s total electric power comes from gas-fired power plants.
As part of a larger push toward renewable energy generation, SoCalGas has committed to delivering 5 percent renewable gas–gas made from waste produced by dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants–by 2022 and 20 percent by 2030.
