Add downtown-based Southern California Gas Co. to the ranks of fossil fuel companies turning increasingly toward hydrogen fuel as a means to reduce its carbon footprint.
Earlier this month in Downey, Southern California Gas, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, unveiled what it claims is North America’s first renewable hydrogen microgrid that powers a home.
The process of generating hydrogen from solar panels is a recent technological development and is currently the subject of much research and fine-tuning, both in the United States and internationally.
The demonstration project at SoCal Gas’ Downey site includes the solar panels, a hydrogen fuel cell and an onsite 2,000-square-foot home. While the fuel cell is intended to supply the basic electricity needs, the demonstration project also allows for blending the electricity from the fuel cell with natural gas to power major appliances such as the stove, the water heater, the clothes dryer and fireplace.
When scaled up, this type of hydrogen microgrid has the potential to deliver energy for more than 100 homes for up to seven days.
“This innovative project demonstrates how the gas and electric grids – working together – can help California reach net-zero emissions more quickly, affordably, and reliably,” Scott Drury, chief executive for SoCal Gas, said in remarks at the hydrogen microgrid unveiling.
In December, SoCal Gas received approval for preliminary work another hydrogen project: the Angeles Link, a green hydrogen pipeline system that could deliver clean, reliable, renewable energy to the Los Angeles region.
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