SoCalGas Green Hydrogen Project Success Stories

Hydrogen is emerging as a fuel for the future, due in part to a low-carbon alternative fuel option. In the early 2000s, Hydrogen received significant attention as a fuel for automobiles. However, it was not widely adopted due to multiple factors such as the cost of Hydrogen, the cost of fuel cells, the challenges associated with Hydrogen storage, and the lack of a proper Hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Despite these factors, there is growing momentum in the hydrogen market with many companies around the world experimenting with hydrogen and figuring out the best possible way to incorporate this low-carbon fuel into the energy mix.

Natural gas utilities, like Southern California Gas Company, more commonly known as SoCalGas, aren’t far behind. The Sempra Energy regulated subsidiary and sister company, San Diego Gas & Electric Company are leading the way with at least 12 projects, with one or two projects each.

SoCalGas is America’s largest natural gas distribution utility, delivering energy to 21.8 million consumers through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities in Central and Southern California. The utility’s Research, Development, and Demonstration Program is vital in innovating around hydrogen by researching, developing, and demonstrating such products and technologies that promote decarbonization across the entire natural gas value chain. The following hydrogen projects demonstrate SoCalGas’s commitment to successfully transitioning to low-carbon fuels:

Hydrogen-fuel-cell drones

To improve the efficiency of its inspections, SoCalGas is implementing the use of hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered in drones collaboration with the Korean firm Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI), and GTI, an R&D organization that develops and demonstrates new energy technologies. The project will assist the utility in pipeline inspections by providing close-up digital photography for locations that are either difficult or hazardous to access. Additionally, imagery for aerial mapping and 3D topographic models will also be provided for deeper insights into the terrains surrounding the utility's operations.

Elements of the Project

• DS30 Drone System - With up to 120 minutes of flight time and 11 pounds maximum payload, this hydrogen fuel cell drone system offers the best fuel cell powerpack performance and can monitor a 1-mile-long pipeline in a single flight. Additionally, it can provide a video recording of pipeline routes, working conditions, construction sites, and open trenches.

Project Duration: 2 months.

Expected Outcomes of the Project

• Inspection of the difficult-to-access sections of SoCalGas’ pipeline network.
• Demonstration for replacement of the utility’s battery-electric drones with hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered drones.

  

H2 Innovation Experience

SoCalGas has developed the first-of-its-kind microgrid in the U.S. that includes a 2,000-square-foot home, solar and battery system, and an electrolyzer that converts solar energy into green hydrogen. Termed “H2 Innovation Experience”, it also includes a fuel cell to convert the produced renewable hydrogen back to electricity when required.

Elements of the H2 Project

• Electrolyzer - Utilizes solar energy to produce hydrogen that is stored in a hydrogen storage system.
• Storage System – Stores hydrogen produced by the electrolyzer for days, weeks, or even months.
• Battery System – Feeds renewable electricity from the solar panels for use within the microgrid.
• Fuel Cell - Utilizes hydrogen to produce renewable electricity.
• Blending System - Blends up to 20% green hydrogen with natural gas to be used by the home’s gas appliances.

Expected Outcomes

• Green hydrogen production for community energy needs.
• Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Scalability of supply to serve large neighborhoods, commercial buildings, industry, and the transportation sector.
• Use clean energy to support communities all year long and provide a reliable energy supply during power outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).

H2 SilverSTARS

SoCalGas is working on developing the first-of-its-kind advanced hydrogen generation system at the SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California. Termed "H2 SilverSTARS", the project aims to produce hydrogen from renewable natural gas (RNG) for fueling Sun Line’s fleet of hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. This demonstration project, at scale, has the potential of providing clean hydrogen at any location adjacent to a natural gas pipeline and will play a significant role in reducing GHG emissions and accelerating California's climate and clean air goals.

Elements of the Project

• HydroPrime HC300 MIN System – This hydrogen generation system provided by Linde will be deployed for the first time in North America at SunLine's fueling station. It will produce ~650 kg H2/day from RNG.
• STARS-165 SMR - This hydrogen generation system achieves higher efficiencies due to a compact microchannel design and is driven by an electricity-powered induction heating process. Two STARS systems will be installed for this research project and will have a combined hydrogen production capacity of ~330 kg H2/day.
• Refueling Infrastructure – Will be required to fuel the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Project Duration: 36 months.

Expected Outcomes of the Project

• Fueling of 17 or more hydrogen fuel cell electric buses with emissions-free clean hydrogen.

Angeles Link

The Angeles Link project is said to be America’s largest green hydrogen energy infrastructure system that will be delivering clean and reliable energy to the entire Los Angeles region. It involves the integration of renewable electricity resources, such as solar and wind, and aims to significantly reduce GHG emissions from power generation, industrial processes, heavy-duty vehicles, and other such hard-to-electrify sectors of Southern California.

Elements of the Project

• Curtailed/New/Solar/Wind Electricity – 25 to 35 GW of 100% renewable electricity that is on the grid, newly built, or curtailed will be providing power to the electrolyzer.
• Electrolyzer – 10 to 20 GW to produce hydrogen from renewable electricity.
• Battery System - 2 GW batteries to provide backup power when required.
• Delivery – Provide hydrogen to industries that need it the most.

Expected Outcomes of the Project

• Replacement of diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks with hydrogen fuel cell trucks and displace up to 3 million gallons of diesel fuel/day.
• Elimination of ~25,000 tons of smog-forming NOx/year.
• Conversion of 4 natural gas power plants to green hydrogen.
• Deliver green hydrogen equivalent to ~25% of the natural gas SoCalGas delivers today.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Yard Truck

SoCalGas has collaborated with several technology developers and equipment manufacturers for the development and demonstration of 2 zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell yard trucks at the terminals of Port of Los Angeles. This project is part of the Zero-Emissions for California Ports (ZECAP) Program, which is in part funded by the California Air Resources Board.

Elements of the Project

• Fuel cell - The project team completed the engineering design of the hydrogen fuel cell yard trucks in 2020 and overcame constraints related to vehicle wheelbase and storage vessel accessibility.
• Refueling Infrastructure - The project team also finished the engineering design for a custom fueling infrastructure, applied for the necessary permits, and procured all long-lead vehicle components.
• Delivery – In late 2020, assembly of the yard trucks began whereas the delivery was scheduled for late April 2021, despite COVID-related delays.

Project Duration: 12 months.

Expected Outcomes of the Project

• Improvement in operator satisfaction.
• Quieter and cleaner port environment.
• Reduction in GHGs, pollutants, and diesel particulate matter-related emissions.     

Hydrogen Blending Demonstration Program:

In September 2022, SoCalGas in collaboration with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southwest Gas, filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to implement hydrogen blending demonstration projects in California. SDG&E, also a regulated subsidiary of Sempra, provides electricity and natural gas to 3.3 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and Southern Orange counties in Southwestern California, USA. The application was initially filed in 2020; however, regulators eventually dismissed that application raising concerns that the utilities’ proposal for an estimated 31.8 million USD demonstration project was unclear on the scope of work, cost, and timing. Regulators were concerned that the proposed project might overlap with a technical study being conducted by the University of California (UC), Riverside regarding the impact of hydrogen injection in natural gas pipelines, and funding set aside by the California Energy Commission (CEC) for hydrogen blending. Regulators also highlighted gaps in the application such as the lack of planning for the latter two phases of the demonstration program, which were supposed to begin in early 2023. It was recommended that the utilities demonstrate proper planning along with collaboration with other stakeholders such as CEC and UC Riverside.

 

In July 2022, the University of California, Riverside conducted the 'Hydrogen Blending Impacts Study' which was commissioned by the CPUC. This study evaluated the operational and safety concerns associated with injecting hydrogen into the existing natural gas pipeline network at various percentages and aimed to help California establish standards and interconnection protocols for the injection of green hydrogen into natural gas pipelines. According to the study,

•           Hydrogen blends of up to 5% are generally safe. However, blending more hydrogen in gas pipelines will result in a greater chance of leakage and the embrittlement of steel pipelines.

•           To avoid leaks and equipment malfunction, hydrogen blends greater than 5% would require modifications of appliances such as stoves and water heaters.

•           Hydrogen blends greater than 20% will have a higher likelihood of permeating plastic pipes thereby increasing the risk of gas ignition outside the pipeline.

•           Due to the lower energy content of hydrogen, a greater amount of hydrogen-blended natural gas will be required to deliver the same amount of energy to consumers as compared to purely natural gas.

The study further concluded that to determine the appropriate blend percentages suitable to mitigate operational risks, it is critical to conduct real-world demonstrations of hydrogen blending under safe and controlled conditions.

The new application for the demonstration projects addresses some of the highlighted concerns and builds upon the study conducted by the University of California, Riverside along with CPUC's recommendation to develop pilot projects for evaluating standards for the safe injection of green hydrogen into California's pipeline system. The utilities expect a proposed decision from CPUC on their filed application in 2024. If approved, SoCalGas plans to begin a hydrogen blending demonstration project at the University of California Irvine (UCI) soon after.

Future Plans at SoCalGas   

SoCalGas is the first natural gas utility in the U.S. to announce its goal of having net-zero GHG emissions by 2045. The utility aims to deliver 20% RNG by 2030 and invest more in hydrogen pilot projects as compared to other utility companies. Moreover, it is targeting to successfully operate a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035.           

SoCalGas is on track to complete its projects despite facing delays due to the covid-19 pandemic. Due to its innovation around hydrogen, the utility is gaining popularity, especially in the North American region. Its “H2 Innovation Experience” project has been named the “World-Changing Idea by a Fast Company” in 2021. Moreover, the U.S. Green Building Council, Los Angeles also recognized the project in December 2021 at its 12^th Annual Sustainable Innovation Awards, honoring it with the “Sustainable Innovation Award” in the category of “Energy and Operational Carbon.”        

Conclusion

SoCalGas is at the forefront of the clean energy transition in the U.S., aggressively working to develop the tools required for decarbonizing hard-to-electrify sectors. For successfully transitioning to low-carbon fuels, the utility has given immense importance to hydrogen and carbon management and is developing several projects to demonstrate the feasibility of adopting renewable hydrogen as part of its overall clean energy strategy. The research conducted by SoCalGas depicts that clean fuels coupled with carbon management can help the state of California reach the net-zero emissions goal more easily with considerably less risk of power disruptions, customer conversion barriers, and technological limitations.