SoCalGas supports hydrogen fuel mobility projects
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), the largest gas distribution utility in the US, announced today (08th February) to provide US$ 1.3 million for developing four hydrogen fuel mobility technologies. These technology projects are working to provide emissions-free transportation for railways and at ports in California and outside the US.
These four projects are selected through the California Energy Commission’s (CEC), Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demonstrations in Rail and Marine Applications at Ports (H2RAM) grant program. The project partners include Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine Inc., a maritime fuel cell maker research organisation, Gas Technology Institute (GTI), and non-profit CALSTART. On top of the $1.3 million funding, the CEC will provide over $10.4 million to finance the R&D of these projects.
“SoCalGas is thrilled to support these important hydrogen technology projects,” said Neil Navin, the Vice President of clean energy innovations at SoCalGas.”
Ted Barnes, GTI’s research and development director, said: “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.”
California Assemblymember Kevin McCarty said, “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.”
SoCalGas has been working on supporting several low- and zero-carbon energy technologies, for instance, last year it announced a Hydrogen Blending Demonstration Program to study blending hydrogen in its gas system, to understand hydrogen injection standard for regulatory approval.
It also announced “H2 Hydrogen Home,” project to use solar panels to create electricity to produce green hydrogen via electrolysis. The hydrogen will be blended with natural gas for the home’s appliances and converted back to electricity using a residential fuel cell. The project is expected to be complete by late 2021.
Furthermore, SoCalGas will test a new technology that separates and compresses hydrogen from a blend of hydrogen and natural gas, and deliver it through the existing natural gas network.
