Distribution utility Southern California Gas Co. and clean energy technology firm Bloom Energy are teaming up on a project to generate and then blend hydrogen on a university campus.
The project will utilize Bloom Energy’s electrolzyer to create hydrogen and then blend into the existing gas system at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) in Pasadena. The move, set to launch in 2022, would help decarbonize the campus gas power mix since hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide.
"California has ambitious climate goals and a successful energy transition will require companies to collaborate and implement innovative projects," said California State Assembly member Chris Holden. "This unique demonstration could help our state transition to a carbon neutral future."
More on EnergyTech's coverage of Hydrogen in the Power Mix
The collaboration will utilize Bloom Energy's solid oxide, high temperature electrolyzer to generate hydrogen, which will then be injected into Caltech's natural gas infrastructure. The resulting 10 percent hydrogen blend will be converted into electricity without combustion through existing Bloom Energy fuel cells downstream of the SoCalGas meter, producing electricity for a portion of the university. For the purpose of this project, the electrolyzer is designed to generate hydrogen from grid electricity.
At scale, the electrolyzer and fuel cell combination could enable long duration clean energy storage and low-carbon distributed power generation through the gas network for businesses, residential neighborhoods, and dense urban areas.
When configured as a microgrid, it could also provide resilient power when and where energy is needed most, protecting businesses, campuses or neighborhoods from widespread power outages.
"We need to pursue a diverse set of decarbonization levers," said Maryam Brown, president, SoCalGas. "Projects like this expand and accelerate clean fuel initiatives, which will help decarbonize California faster."
