Southern California Gas Company and University of California, Irvine Collaborate on Hydrogen Blending Demonstration

Strategic Insights -

SoCalGas and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) have announced a proposed collaboration to demonstrate the safe blending of electrolytic hydrogen into existing natural gas infrastructure on the UCI campus. The project aims to explore the potential of clean fuels like renewable hydrogen in delivering energy at scale through California's existing natural gas system. The demonstration is a crucial step in establishing a statewide injection standard for renewable hydrogen, which could promote California's clean energy and resiliency goals.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed collaboration between SoCalGas and UCI aims to demonstrate the safe blending of electrolytic hydrogen into existing natural gas infrastructure on the UCI campus.
  • The project aims to help better understand how clean fuels like renewable hydrogen can be delivered at scale through California's existing natural gas system.
  • The demonstration is an important next step in establishing a statewide injection standard for renewable hydrogen that would promote California's clean energy and resiliency goals.
  • If approved, SoCalGas could begin testing hydrogen blending at UCI as soon as 2024.
  • The project would initially blend 5% hydrogen, with a goal of gradually increasing the hydrogen blend up to 20%, resulting in potentially significant CO2 emissions reductions.
  • A 20% clean hydrogen blend in a system as large as Southern California's could reduce CO2 emissions in an amount equivalent to removing more than a million passenger vehicles from the road for a year.
  • The establishment of a statewide renewable hydrogen blending standard could help scale green hydrogen production, which in turn can drive down costs for its widespread adoption across the state.
  • SoCalGas is at the forefront of sustainability, aiming to have net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, and is currently working on a dozen hydrogen pilot projects.

Statistics:

  • The proposed demonstration project would aim to blend 5% initial hydrogen levels, with a goal of increasing to 20% blends by the end of the project.
  • A 20% clean hydrogen blend in a system as large as Southern California's could reduce CO2 emissions in an amount equivalent to removing more than 1 million passenger vehicles from the road for a year.
  • Over a dozen hydrogen pilot projects are currently in progress within SoCalGas, including testing a technology designed to separate out hydrogen blended into natural gas pipelines.

Sources:

  • SoCalGas news release.
  • University of California, Irvine, citing UCI professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering Jack Brouwer.
  • Interview with Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine), representing UC Irvine.
  • University of California, Riverside, for their "Hydrogen Blending Impacts Study."
  • GTI Energy, citing Kristine Wiley, vice president of the Hydrogen Technology Center.
  • Southern California District Council of Laborers, citing Jon Preciado, business manager.
  • Fast Company, for naming SoCalGas' [H2] Innovation Experience a World-Changing Idea in North America.