SoCalGas kicks off hydrogen production development

Southern California Gas on August 19 announced the official ground breaking for a "first-of-its-kind" hydrogen production system, set to provide gas for fuel cell-based buses.

The advanced production system at Southern California-based public bus operator SunLine Transit Agency will deliver hydrogen at locations adjacent to natural gas pipelines, allowing it to be used as part of a blend.

SoCalGas's core technology was devised by Pacific Northwest National Lab researchers at STARS Technology Corporation, in partnership with SunLine Transit Agency and SoCalGas. This is the third prototype of the core product, dubbed H2 SilverStars, and the first intended for commercial usage.

SoCalGas said: "At scale, this demonstration project has the potential to provide clean hydrogen at any location adjacent to a natural gas pipeline, which will help reduce GHG emissions and accelerate California's climate and clean air goals."

Once installed, the first fully-deployed H2 SilverStars system will produce up to 80kg/day of hydrogen, enough to fuel three zero-emission buses operated by SunLine Transit Agency. STARS president Robert Wegeng says it shows the cost of transporting hydrogen is falling.

Wegeng said: "For several years now, the high cost of transporting hydrogen has been the big problem with rolling out fuel cell vehicles in California.

"This demonstration elegantly solves the problem with a compact, mass-produced hydrogen generator that can be placed on the gas grid in close proximity to filling stations and other places where cheap hydrogen is useful. 

"Better yet, the hydrogen can meet the new Federal 'Clean Hydrogen Standard' for regional hydrogen hubs since it can be produced from renewable natural gas."